“Onegin”
The National Ballet of Canada
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Toronto, Canada
November 22, 2023
by Denise Sum
copyright © 2023 by Denise Sum
John Cranko’s “Onegin” is a touchstone for the National Ballet of Canada, performed consistently since its company premiere in 1984. It is a well-rounded production with Pushkin’s engaging storytelling, Cranko's interesting and challenging choreography and an evocative arrangement of musical works by Tchaikovsky. It has all the elements for a timeless full length ballet that is both accessible to the casual ballet goer and rewarding for the balletomane. The NBoC last performed “Onegin” in 2016, so it was due to be brought back to the stage, this time with some exciting debuts.
Jurgita Dronina and Guillaume Côté in "Onegin". Photo by Karolina Kuras.