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So elaborate was Rudolf Nureyev's vision of the Cervantes classic that his lavish film ballet ultimately required the facilities of a gigantic Australian airplane hangar to produce. Choreographed and co-directed by Nureyev, the film received its Sydney premiere in 1973, and a London Royal Gala presentation in 1974, and went on to travel briefly to New York. Despite rave reviews, prints gradually fell out of circulation and grew scarce. For 25 years, incomplete copies have been scattered across two continents, with the film developing a reputation as a fabled lost treasure. After a painstaking five-year process, Nureyev's DON QUIXOTE has at long last been reassembled, digitally remastered, and restored to its original glory. Starring Nureyev as Basilio, the production also features Nureyev's codirector Sir Robert Helpmann as Don Quixote and Lucette Aldous as Kitri.
A synopsis of the ballet, plus essays by writer Gia Kourlas on what prompted Rudolf Nureyev to create this unique film of the dance work; why it is considered such a truimph; and behind-the-scenes details on its production and restoration from Wallace
Potts, film archivist for the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation.
Click here to explore the Web companion
for this program, which originally aired on June 6, 2001.
Top banner photos: Basilio (Rudolf Nureyev) and Kitri (Lucette Aldous); Espada (Kelvin Coe) and the street dancer (Marilyn Rowe); Don Quixote (Sir Robert Helpmann).
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The Fandango couple, Janet Vernon and Gary Norman. |
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The foppish Gamache, played by Colin Peasley. |
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