Massenet's little-known opera on Spanish literature's greatest masterpiece is a marvelous vehicle for a star bass. But Seattle Opera's brilliantly evocative and surreal production, directed by Linda Brovsky and designed by Donald Eastman, made the show much more than that--a beautiful meditation on imagination, romance, nobility of soul, and aging.

Nicolas Cavalier (Don Quichotte) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

Nicolas Cavallier (Don Quichotte) and Daniela Sindram (Dulcinée) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

John Relyea (Don Quichotte) and Jad Kassouf (Ténébrun) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

John Relyea (Don Quichotte) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

John Relyea (Don Quichotte) and Eduardo Chama (Sancho Panza) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

John Relyea (Don Quichotte) and Malgorzata Walewska (Dulcinée) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

Nicolas Cavallier (Don Quichotte) and Richard Bernstein (Sancho Panza) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

Eduardo Chama (Sancho Panza) and John Relyea (Don Quichotte) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch

Eduardo Chama (Sancho Panza), John Relyea (Don Quichotte), and chorus in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011.

John Relyea (Don Quichotte) and Eduardo Chama (Sancho Panza) in Massenet's Don Quichotte, 2011. © Rozarii Lynch