Ballet West's Onegin

I love Russian literature and music so the ballet Onegin, based on the novel by Alexander Pushkin and featuring music by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is one of my favorites!  I have been looking forward to Ballet West's production since the 2022-2023 season was announced and I had the opportunity to see it last night.  I loved everything about it including the story, the music, the choreography, the performances, the sets, and the costumes!  A young girl named Tatiana (Jenna Rae Herrera) is preparing for a ball in honor of her birthday with her mother (Olivia Gusti), her sister Olga (Chelsea Keefer), and friends from the countryside.  Lensky (Jordan Veit), a poet engaged to Olga, soon arrives with Onegin (Brian Waldrep), his worldly and sophisticated friend from St. Petersburg.  Tatiana falls desperately in love with him and writes an impetuous letter declaring her feelings which her nurse delivers to him.  Prince Gremin (Jake Preece) is also invited to the ball and falls in love with Tatiana but she ignores him in favor of Onegin who, thinking her a silly girl who has read too many romantic novels, rejects her and tears up her letter.  Onegin eventually grows bored with the company and flirts outrageously with Olga.  Lensky challenges him to a duel and Onegin ends up killing him.  Years later a disillusioned Onegin visits Prince Gremin in St. Petersburg and is shocked to discover that his friend has married Tatiana.  He realizes that he is in love with the beautiful princess and writes her a letter.  In a dramatic reversal of fortune, she rejects him and tears up his letter.  I love Tchaikovsky's music because it is so passionate which makes it the perfect backdrop for this tragic love story.  I especially loved the music during the duel because it is unbelievably heartbreaking.  The choreography is some of most innovative I've seen performed by Ballet West.  I loved the wild abandon of the folk dances in the countryside, particularly the leaps across the stage by the women in the ensemble, juxtaposed with the elegant and stately waltzes at the ball in St. Petersburg.  I also loved the tumultuous and acrobatic final Pas de Deux between Onegin and Tatiana.  Herrera and Waldrep danced their roles brilliantly, executing challenging throws and maneuvers with an incredible amount of emotion (the audience spontaneously applauded when Tatiana gestured for Onegin to leave).  The elegant sets and beautiful costumes in muted jewel tones transport the audience to imperial Russia for a few hours and I definitely recommend taking this journey.  There are three more performances at Capitol Theatre (go here for tickets) including a matinee on October 29.