Massenet: Don Quichotte
Wexford Festival Opera, 22nd October 2019
Fireworks and a fiesta of Spanish sunshine injected heat into the opening night of the 68th season of Wexford Festival Opera. Don Quichotte falls into the category of “rarity” these days, which is a great shame because Massenet’s distillation of Cervantes’ lengthy novel into five brief acts bursts with terrific music. Composed towards the end of his life as a vehicle for the great Russian bass Fyodor Chaliapin, it is a tender reflection on advancing age. Indeed, the last time I saw it, the Don was portrayed as Massenet himself, a crusty conservative fighting the advances of “new music”.
Aigul Akhmetshina (Dulcinée) and Goderdzi Janelidze (Don Quichotte)
© Clive Barda
Click here to read the full review on Bachtrack.