Maria Abashova dances Tatyana in the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburgs production at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Oleg Gabyshev is Onegin in the ballet, which is having its Southern California debut. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Boris Eifman’s sexually charged production is set in 1991 as the Soviet Union is crumbling. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Dmitry Fisher, top, is Lensky to Oleg Gabyshev’s Onegin. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
St. Petersburgs Vantov Bridge serves as a literal and symbolic connector between past and present, city and country, as Maria Abashova dances. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Members of the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg corps. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Sergei Volobuev portrays the blind Colonel whom Tatyana (Maria Abashova) marries. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Oleg Gabyshev transforms Onegin from bored aristocrat to broken man. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Choreographer Boris Eifman takes a bow at the conclusion of his “Onegin” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times)
