A Nod to the Composer

Times Dance Critic Lewis Segal’s two consecutive reviews this week of “Don Quixote” as danced by the visiting Bolshoi Ballet dwelt in detail on past choreographers and dancers, but only once made a throwaway mention of “Minkus’ music.”

His name was Ludwig Minkus, Mr. Segal. He was born in Vienna in 1826 and made his initial reputation as a ballet composer in Paris before moving to Russia in 1853. He spent the following 38 years variously in St. Petersburg and Moscow as conductor, composer and teacher, before retiring to Austria, where he died in 1917 (though some sources claim he simply disappeared).

It would be nice if Segal could pay at least as much attention to Minkus, whose music is (in some form, anyway) actually heard in the performances reviewed, as to the choreographers and dancers of bygone productions. Without the music, the dancers would be hoofing it across the stage in silence, and that would be a silly spectacle indeed.

MATTHEW B. TEPPER

Los Angeles