Post by tmesis on Jan 19, 2020 20:59:51 GMT
Eugene Onegin is one of my all time favourite operas and it's such a shame that currently The Garden has such a p*ss-poor production in its repertoire.
I first went to see this ballet version by John Cranko when the RB acquired it in 2001 and was blown away by it then as I was last night. I've managed to catch it every time they've revived it since, which I'm pleased to say they do every three to four years. It really is one of the most perfect ballets ever created. There's absolutely no padding and the exposition of the plot is exemplary. Also what a great choreographer Cranko was and it's obvious how much he influenced Macmillan.
I was initially disappointed that the wonderful Vadim Muntagirov withdrew from the title part - I still think he would be a stunning Onegin - but his replacement, Reece Clarke was wonderful, fully encompassing the emotional arc from aloofness to bitter regret. It really was a wonderful cast with Matthew Ball as Lensky and Francesca Hayward as Olga. But, like the opera, it's Tatiana that really dominates things and Natalia Osipova was sensational last night. I've sometimes found her a little cold in other parts but she fully and movingly traveled the time span from impressionable young girl to self-assured princess.
I'm looking forward to seeing it again later in the run with Federico Bonelli and Yasmine Naghdi.
I first went to see this ballet version by John Cranko when the RB acquired it in 2001 and was blown away by it then as I was last night. I've managed to catch it every time they've revived it since, which I'm pleased to say they do every three to four years. It really is one of the most perfect ballets ever created. There's absolutely no padding and the exposition of the plot is exemplary. Also what a great choreographer Cranko was and it's obvious how much he influenced Macmillan.
I was initially disappointed that the wonderful Vadim Muntagirov withdrew from the title part - I still think he would be a stunning Onegin - but his replacement, Reece Clarke was wonderful, fully encompassing the emotional arc from aloofness to bitter regret. It really was a wonderful cast with Matthew Ball as Lensky and Francesca Hayward as Olga. But, like the opera, it's Tatiana that really dominates things and Natalia Osipova was sensational last night. I've sometimes found her a little cold in other parts but she fully and movingly traveled the time span from impressionable young girl to self-assured princess.
I'm looking forward to seeing it again later in the run with Federico Bonelli and Yasmine Naghdi.
