Boston Ballet Presents John Cranko's ONEGIN Tonight

Boston Ballet's 52nd season continues with John Cranko's emotionally evocative love story Onegin. Returning to Boston Ballet after fourteen years, this passionate tale of unrequited love is based on Russian poet Alexander Pushkin's popular 19th century verse-novel. With all the heated romance and suspense of a classic melodrama, Onegin is set to the incomparable music of Tchaikovsky and has been hailed "an undeniable masterpiece, both technically and artistically" (Theodore Bale, The Boston Herald). Onegin will run tonight, February 25-March 6, 2016, at the Boston Opera House.

"Onegin is a compelling expression of human emotion and experience. With dramatic clarity and stylistic beauty, John Cranko paints a vivid reflection of Pushkin's literary masterpiece-a story that has stood the test of time," says Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. "It has become a classic staple in the repertoire of all major international ballet companies, and the roles of Tatiana and Onegin are ones that dancers around the world dream of dancing. The characters in the ballet are so deeply layered, making a profound impact on both the artists and the audience."

When Onegin was last performed by Boston Ballet in 2002, it was celebrated as "the finest full-length work Boston Ballet [had] performed in its 39-year history" (Christine Temin, The Boston Globe). As one of eight full-length story ballets ever created by John Cranko, Onegin is widely considered the hallmark of the world-renowned choreographer's repertoire. In 1994, Boston Ballet became the first American company to perform Cranko's Onegin; and it became a favorite of Boston Ballet audiences and dancers. The Company performed the work again in 1997 and 2002. Ever since its premiere at Stuttgart Ballet in 1965, Onegin has been celebrated for its nuanced choreography that skillfully captures a full range of emotion, immersing viewers in the romantic world of Pushkin's poetry. Onegin is now in the repertoire of more than 20 companies worldwide. This season's production is on loan from the Dutch National Ballet, with elegant set and costume design by longtime Cranko collaborator Elisabeth Dalton. Agneta Stjernlöf-Valcu and Victor Valcu, renowned ballet pedagogues, will stage the ballet under the supervision of Reid Anderson, current Artistic Director of Stuttgart Ballet. Together, they provide valuable continuity and connection with Cranko, the visionary and guiding spirit behind this classic ballet.

Set in 19th century Russia, Onegin follows Tatiana, an innocent country girl who falls in love with Eugene Onegin, a cynical Russian aristocrat. Swept away by her romantic fantasies, Tatiana declares her love for Onegin in an impassioned letter that he tears apart and mocks as an impulsive, naïve outburst. Years later, Onegin and Tatiana meet again; but this time, Tatiana is an elegant married woman and Onegin is the one looking to win over her affection. Despite his heartfelt plea for Tatiana's love and forgiveness, she vows to be faithful to her devoted husband. Filled with romance and despair, Onegin has all the elements of a melodramatic narrative: passionate love letters, fatal duels, and most importantly, unrequited love.

With a score masterfully arranged by Kurt-Heinz Stolze and performed by Boston Ballet Orchestra, the romantic music paired alongside Cranko's expressive choreography creates an intensely dramatic atmosphere for Pushkin's story to unfold. Cranko had long aspired to choreograph a ballet to Tchaikovsky's popular opera Eugene Onegin; but after this idea was rejected by Covent Garden and Stuttgart Ballet, Cranko asked Kurt Heinz-Stolze, conductor at Stuttgart, to arrange an entirely new score that would capture the spirit of Tchaikovsky's opera. Though Stolze does not use a single note from Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin, his precise selections from Tchaikovsky's oeuvre-Compositions for Piano and excerpts from the opera The Caprices of Oxana-have proven to be "beautifully crafted and cohesive" (Christine Temin, The Boston Globe).

John Cranko is recognized as one of the most influential choreographic forces of the 20th century. A gifted storyteller, Cranko became the Artistic Director for Stuttgart Ballet in 1961, transforming the regional dance group into a world class ballet company. Onegin is one of the three most famous full-length story ballets created in his career and played a major role in solidifying his status as an international dance legacy. The other two include Romeo and Juliet and Taming of the Shrew, which are also in the repertoire of Boston Ballet. Before his untimely death in 1973, Cranko was a generous nurturer and the catalyst for many young dancers to begin choreographing while pursuing performance careers. Those individuals became the next generation of significant choreographic voices, including Kenneth MacMillan, Ji?í Kylián, and John Neumeier.

Onegin has been generously supported by the Stephanie L. Brown Foundation.

About Boston Ballet

Since 1963, Boston Ballet's internationally acclaimed performances of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary ballets, combined with a dedication to world class dance education and community initiative programs, have made the institution a leader in its field, with a 52-year history of promoting excellence and access to dance.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Max Hodges, the Company maintains a diverse repertoire, ranging from full-length ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.

Programming for Boston Ballet's 2015-2016 season includes Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler: A Ballet by John Neumeier, making Boston Ballet the first North American Company to perform the work; captivating classical works such as John Cranko's Onegin and Mikko Nissinen's Swan Lake; masterpieces by world-renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine and 20th century masters Leonid Yakobson and Léonide Massine; and two highly anticipated world premieres by Karole Armitage and Yury Yanowsky.

Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access. Led by Director Margaret Tracey, the School reaches more than 5,000 students (toddler to adult) each year through Boston Ballet School classes, the Summer Dance Workshop, Pre-professional Summer Dance Program and the Pre-Professional Training held at three studio locations in Boston, Newton, and Marblehead.

Boston Ballet's nationally-acclaimed education programs include Citydance, Adaptive Dance, and ECI On Location. The programs are offered in partnership with the Boston Public Schools and in communities throughout the city and region.

For more information, please visit www.bostonballet.org.

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