After two years, John Cranko’s world-famous choreography Onegin returns to the repertoire of the Hungarian National Ballet. Pushkin’s romantic heroes are portrayed by Gergő Ármin Balázsi, Iurii Kekalo, and Louis Scrivener, as well as Tatyjana Melnyik, Lili Felméry, and Maria Yakovleva in the Hungarian State Opera Ballet Company’s series running from 21 February to 4 March 2026. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra is conducted by Paul Connelly.
What consequences can arise when a superior, cynical, bored golden boy of the big city, attending a provincial birthday celebration, not only rudely rejects the dreamy celebrant who is madly in love with him, but also openly flirts with her sister, who is, moreover, being courted by his best friend? At first glance, nothing good; and in the aristocratic milieu of 19th-century Russia, tragedy is inevitable.
Pushkin’s multifaceted verse novel Eugene Onegin has captivated readers for nearly 200 years, and the tragic love story unfolding within it has, since 1965, become one of the defining success stories of the world’s ballet stages through the choreography of John Cranko, who rebuilt the Stuttgart Ballet, supported as well by a selection of Tchaikovsky’s emotionally rich works. In the current season, Onegin, the unattached “superfluous man” who recognizes his true feelings too late, is once again danced by principals Gergő Ármin Balázsi and Louis Scrivener, as well as soloist Iurii Kekalo. Tatiana, who grows from a shy girl into an adult woman capable of standing up for her feelings through moral strength, is brought to life by principals Tatyjana Melnyik and Maria Yakovleva, and soloist Lili Felméry. In the role of Tatiana’s sister Olga, Adrienn Papp and soloist Yuki Wakabayashi appear alongside Stefanida Ovcharenko, who makes her debut. Onegin’s friend Lensky is portrayed by Yago Guerra and Viachaslau Hnedchyk, with Auguste Marmus also making his debut. The rehearsal process and the selection of dancers are overseen on behalf of the rights holder by Reid Anderson. The former director of the National Ballet of Canada and the Stuttgart Ballet, as a leading soloist of the German company, performed both the title role and Prince Gremin with great success at two guest performances at the Erkel Theatre in 1980.
The ballet Onegin is performed six times during the season: twice on 21 and 22 February, and then on 3 and 4 March, at the Opera House. At the performances, the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra is conducted by Paul Connelly, a sought-after conductor at Europe’s foremost ballet companies.
Photo by Valter Berecz
