Onegin

John Cranko’s ballet based on Alexander Pushkin’s novel.

The Czech National Ballet is about to reinclude in its repertoire a true gem among narrative dramatic ballets – Onegin. In one of his major works, the globally celebrated choreographer John Cranko brought to perfection his extraordinary art of telling stories through dance. By reviving this masterpiece, the Czech National Ballet has linked up to the trend of staging Cranko’s creations.

The production, which will premiere at the National Theatre, requires from the performers expressive acting, brilliant dance technique and a profound sense for a range of emotional portrayal of the individual characters.

Eugene Onegin, a novel in verse written by the Russian Romantic author Alexander Sergeyevich Pushin, ranks among the best-known and most popular titles of global literature. The story of Onegin, a smug, selfish and world-weary Saint Petersburg dandy, and the shy country girl Tatiana, and their ill-fated love. The protagonists of Pushkin’s drama first entered the stage owing to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who in 1878 composed an eponymous opera. John Cranko created his adaptation in 1965 for the Stuttgarter Ballett, starring Marcia Haydée (Tatiana) and Ray Barra (Onegin). The Czech audience had the first opportunity to see Cranko’s Onegin in 1982. John Cranko’s Onegin, deemed a treasure of the international ballet legacy, has been a staple of the repertoire of the major theatres worldwide. The production visually evokes the atmosphere of Pushkin’s novel in verse, with the romantic impression being enhanced by the wonderful costumes designed by Elisabeth Dalton.

choreography: John Cranko

music based on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Kurt-Heinz Stolze

sets and costumes: Elisabeth Dalton

staged by: Jane Bourne, Filip Barankiewicz

conductor: Václav Zahradník/Sergej Poluektov

cast: Miho Ogimoto/Alina Nanu/Nikola Márová, Giovanni Rotolo/Patrik Holeček/Danilo Lo Monaco/Adam Zvonař, Irina Burduja/Olga Bogoliubskaia/Ayaka Fujii ...