Blog

On October 7, we celebrate the the 100th performance of John Cranko's ONEGIN at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Traces of the premiere cast on November 9, 2003 are still visible in our company today. Back then, the role of Tatjana was portrayed by Nadja Saidakova, who still rehearses the ballet with our dancers to this day. Also cast were former Staatsballett director Vladimir Malakhov as Lensky, Oliver Matz as Onegin and Corinne Verdeil as Olga. Beatrice Knop, who danced the role of Tatjana as part of the second cast, has also remained an intergral part of the Staatsballett Berlin as production manager.

The 100th performance will feature Polina Semionova as Tatjana, a role she portrayed for the first time on May 19, 2004 alongside Ronald Savkovic. That very same performance, Michael Banzhaf, who took up his position as Personal Assistant to the Designated Artistic Director this season, was cast as Lensky, and Doreen Windolf, who now heads the Stage Dance Department at the Staatliche Ballett- und Artistikschule, was cast as Olga.

On October 7,  Alejandro Virelles will portray the title role alongside Polina Semionova, Alizée Sicre will dance the role of Olga and Alexandre Cagnat will dance the role of Lensky. Yevgeniy Khissamutdinov will take the stage as Gremin.