OVERVIEW
Choreographer: John Cranko | Music: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
When Tatiana, a young country girl, is introduced to Onegin, a worldly aristocrat bored with the city, he becomes the object of her innocent and unyielding affection. Yet, in his eyes, he sees only a coltish girl who reads too many romance novels. When fate brings them back together years later, Onegin finds himself yearning for the love he once dismissed—only to face the devastating consequences of his past actions.
Based on Alexander Pushkin's novel Eugene Onegin, John Cranko’s Onegin is a timeless tale of love, rejection, and regret. Using an arrangement of Tchaikovsky compositions, the ballet features well-developed characters with rich psychological depth, who evolve through compelling character arcs as the story unfolds across its three acts.
Premiering in 1965, Cranko created Onegin for Stuttgart Ballet, where he served as artistic director. Under his leadership, the company became an artistic Eden, cultivating a thriving environment that influenced the dance world for years to come. Cranko encouraged his dancers to be artists, technicians, and choreographers, and Stuttgart Ballet became a fertile ground for future choreographic talent, producing legendary choreographers like Jirí Kylián, John Neumeier, and William Forsythe.
Cranko’s Onegin is one of the defining ballets of this rich artistic legacy, and it continues to resonate in the dance world today. Its profound emotional depth and groundbreaking choreography have made it a cornerstone of the classical ballet repertoire.
Onstage Dinner | Friday, September 5, 2025
Shara and Kent Schaffer | Chairmen
Jim Nelson | Honoree
Join us in honoring Executive Director, Jim Nelson, as he celebrates his eminent career with Houston Ballet alongside a toast to the Ballet’s dear friend, Margaret Alkek Williams, and her 90th Birthday.
