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4d ago

San Francisco Ballet Debuts Yuri Possokhov’s Eugene Onegin to Strong Applause

The full-length adaptation pairs Possokhov with composer Ilya Demutsky in a $2 million co-production with the Joffrey Ballet.

San Francisco Ballet in Yuri Possokhov’s “Eugene Onegin.”
San Francisco Ballet’s Katherine Barkman, left, and Joseph Walsh in Yuri Possokhov’s “Eugene Onegin.” 
San Francisco Ballet’s Joseph Walsh, foreground, and Wei Wang in Yuri Possokhov’s “Eugene Onegin.”
San Francisco Ballet’s Wona Park and Wei Wang in Yuri Possokhov’s “Eugene Onegin.”  

Overview

  • Opening night on Jan. 23 at the War Memorial Opera House featured Joseph Walsh, Katherine Barkman, Wona Park and Wei Wang in the principal roles.
  • The production unfolds in four acts aligned with the seasons and includes recorded excerpts of Pushkin read by actor Alex Jennings.
  • Critics praised the ambition, design and performances while citing pacing issues and some uneven emotional arcs.
  • Demutsky’s new score drew notice as dramatic and polished, with one review calling it impressive rather than revelatory.
  • San Francisco Ballet’s run continues through Feb. 1 with additional casts, and the Joffrey Ballet plans to present the work in Chicago this summer.