Who’s Who in Eugene Onegin

About the Ballet

A brief guide to the dreamers, lovers, and duelers of Pushkin’s timeless tale

San Francisco Ballet’s evolution as a creative force in the dance world has been driven by its visionary leaders. Since 1952, just four Artistic Directors have carried the torch, each leaving a distinctive mark on the company. This year’s Spring Festival will honor their legacy, featuring choreography that represents their contribution to SF Ballet’s rich history.

EUGENE ONEGIN

The Worldly Cynic

A sophisticated man bored by society’s rituals, and by everyone in it. Onegin’s wit and detachment make him magnetic but dangerous. He rejects Tatiana’s love when it’s sincere, only to chase it when it’s gone forever.

TATIANA LARINA

The Dreamer Turned Realist

The quiet, bookish younger Larina sister. Dreamy and sincere, Tatiana believes in love the way others believe in fate. Her heartfelt letter to Onegin marks one of literature’s (and ballet’s) most famous confessions. Years later, transformed into a poised woman of society, she proves that strength can, in fact, coexist with heartbreak.

OLGA LARINA

The Carefree Spirited Sister

Tatiana’s lively, flirtatious sister. Olga is the sun to Tatiana’s moon: where Tatiana is introspective, Olga is carefree. A true social butterfly who loves attention, dancing, and teasing her devoted fiancé, Lensky. She wins hearts easily but her playful coquetry inadvertently sparks tragedy.

VLADIMIR LENSKY

The Romantic Poet

A poet, a dreamer, and a true romantic. Deeply in love with Olga, Lensky’s idealism collides painfully with Onegin’s cynicism. His jealousy stoked by Onegin’s careless flirtation leads him to challenge his best friend to a duel, sealing his own fate.

PRASKOVYA LARINA

The Devoted Mother

Mother to Tatiana and Olga, she is practical, kind, and deeply traditional. Like any mother, she worries over her daughters’ futures with a blend of affection and social caution. She represents tradition and domestic life. Values that both daughters, in their own ways, outgrow.

FILIPYEVNA: THE NANNY

The Heart of the Larina Home

Wise, loyal, and full of wisdom. She comforts Tatiana through her lovesick nights and carries the ill-fated love letter to Onegin. A steady, human anchor in a story swept away by emotion.

PRINCE GREMIN

The Steadfast Match

A noble, kind-hearted general who becomes Tatiana’s husband. His quiet devotion stands in contrast to Onegin’s restless pride. In the end, he is the embodiment of steadfast love. The one who doesn’t get away and wins Tatiana’s respect.

ZARETSKY

The Opportunist

A notorious duelist and mischief-maker who delights in conflict. When Lensky challenges Onegin, Zaretsky eagerly serves as second, ensuring that pride, not reason, wins the day.

THE SPIRITS OF NATURE

The Shifting Seasons

Ethereal beings who usher in each new season: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Mirroring the emotional landscape of the story, their presence marks the passage of time, love, and fate.