Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quijote (1605/1615) is a truly universal work; many composers have been inspired by it since the 17th Century. Some representative musical works from the great quantity of the repertoire-the lyrical theater in this case-can demonstrate certain tendencies in the musical reception of Don Quijote. A comparison of operatic adaptations of Don Quijote throughout the centuries shows that each epoch has its own interpretation and musical vision, shown in the various forms adopted, such as burlesque, tragicomedy, experimental musical theater, and so forth.