show category: Online performance, opera

Opera in three acts on a libretto by Konstantin Shilovsky, inspired by the verse novel Eugene Onegin by Alexander Sergheevici Pushkin

Eugene Onegin (1877-1878) is the first of the three operas written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky based on texts of Alexander Pushkin, the writer whose work marks the beginning of modern Russian literature and the switch from the Romantic perception of the present to a realistic depiction of topics assumed.

The opera script, written by Tchaikovsky in one single night, emphasizes the characters’ psychological patterns and their evolution during events that occurred in Sankt Petersburg, at the Larins Mansion and around. Tatyana Larina – the type of the simple, shy, melancholic, wise Russian woman – turns from a naive country girl into a high society lady, with a strong moral sense, after her love declaration made to Eugene Onegin – the Romantic character misunderstood by society, reluctant to the mediocrity of the surrounding world – is met with coldness and indifference by the loved one. The killing in a jealousy duel of his best friend – Lenski – affects Onegin deeply. After a long absence and the unsuccessful attempt to cast away regrets for his deed, Eugene gets back to Sankt Petersburg, where he meets again a charming Tatyana, now joined by her current husband – Prince Gremin. Onegin’s heart finally experiences the feeling he had long time ago spurned, but it is too late. His love has no chance of fulfilment, as Tatyana is determined to honour her statute of married woman.

Opera Eugene Onegin was coldly received at first by the public, a fact which Russian critic Serghei Flerov explains by the novelty of the subject, focused upon characters from daily human reality, instead of “lovers” or “rivals” the public was so accustomed with. However, the same critic praised Tchaikovsky’s work as a worthy musical correspondent of Pushkin’s text. We invite you therefore to let yourselves transported in the atmosphere of the 19th century Russian society, where candid or passionate love, vanity, jealousy, remorse, commitment – emotional valencies masterfully rendered in the music of the great symphony maker Tchaikovsky – leave a definitive mark upon the human destiny!