Minkus and Friends: Don Quixote, Paquita, La Bayadère

Ludwig Minkus, born in Vienna gained fame in Russia with his ballet scenes in the 1860's & 70's. In Don Quixote, a romantic young couple outshine the doleful Spanish knight, while La Bayadere breathes the air of the Himalayas. If the Italian-born Riccardo Drigo also made his career in St. Petersburg's imperial theaters, three further contemporaries of Minkus; Eduard Helsted, Holger Paulli & Niels Gade are remembered by their compositions for their fellow Dane, the great choreographer August Bournonville.