Review: Onegin (The National Ballet of Canada)

I have little interest in conventional celebrity culture. As a dance enthusiast, my world of celebrities revolves around dancers and choreographers, with Guillaume Côté ranking high on my list. Slated as our very own Canadian Baryshnikov, Côté's tenure at the National Ballet of Canada starting in 1998, marking a twenty-four-year tenure, has been nothing short of remarkable.

Because of this, I jumped at the opportunity to see Onegin, presented by The National Ballet of Canada, as this particular performance was promoted as marking Côté's final portrayal of the role of Onegin, suggesting his impending retirement from the stage. Not that he is going anywhere far, although he may be stepping back soon from his role as a principal dancer, Côté's involvement extends to being a Choreographic Associate with the company and he also acts as the Artistic Director of both the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur and Côté Danse.

Onegin, choreographed by John Cranko, set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and based on the 19th century novel titled Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin, interweaves two tragic love stories, the main of unrequited love.

In this story, Eugene Onegin (Côté) is an urban aristocrat who, while visiting the countryside, meets a young woman named Tatiana (Jurgita Dronina), who loves her romance novels and quickly takes a liking to Onegin. After Tatiana professes her love and is rebuffed, Onegin flirts with her sister Olga (Tina Pereira), leading to a duel with Olga's fiancé, Lensky (Harrison James), which leads to some tragic consequences. Years later, a repentant Onegin realizes his love for Tatiana, only to be rejected by her, asked to leave and forever severe their ties.

The ballet is beautifully designed with earthy tones dominating the palette. This is contrasted sharply with Onegin's stark black formal suit and Tatiana's younger year's attire, a white and gray dress, symbolizing their distinct characters and backgrounds.

The ballet demands substantial acting prowess, admirably met by Côté, Dronina, Pereira, and James. Their performances vividly brought the characters and storyline to life. The character development was clear and compelling, enhancing the narrative's impact. I was completely swept away and fully immersed in the tragic storyline.

Onegin's strength as a ballet is in its exceptional partnering sequences, with a standout scene in Act I, Scene II, where Tatiana dreams of Onegin in her bedroom. This sequence, depicting an imaginary romance, is breathtaking, with intricate lifts and fluid movements between the two. Although an imaginary sequence, you can feel the intense love, all the while seeing incredible balances, slides on pointe and multiple overhead lifts.

While I obviously hold immense love and respect for Côté, it's important to note that his performance in this particular ballet didn't showcase the peak of his dancing abilities, a natural outcome for such a long career. The physical demands of the role, especially in terms of elevation in jumps and the softness of landings, seemed to be more of a challenge for him this time around. Nonetheless, his emotional expression and depth of character brought a unique and valuable dimension to the performance, underscoring his versatility and experience as a dancer.

However, Harrison James, in the role of Lensky, truly stood out, particularly during his solo performance preceding the duel's tragic conclusion. His impeccable technique and athletic prowess were mesmerizing, capturing the essence of the character with every movement. Similarly, Jurgita Dronina's portrayal of Tatiana was captivating as she struck a perfect balance between the emotional depth of the character and the physical expression of her pain and turmoil.

Overall, Onegin is an exquisite narrative ballet, ideal for introducing audiences to ballet storylines. It combines an accessible narrative with stunning choreography, highlighted by remarkable partnering. The show runs only until November 26th, so be sure to secure your tickets quickly!

Onegin, presented by the National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (145 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 4G1) is playing until November 26, 2023. Tickets range from $72 to $211. Tickets can be purchased online here.

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Photos of Jurgita Dronina and Guillaume Côté in Onegin. Photo by Karolina Kuras.

Written by Deanne Kearney
DeanneKearney.com @deannekearney