Eugene Onegin

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Konstantin Shilovsky

I now place my fate in your hands

Eugene Onegin, a young dandy from St. Petersburg, bored by the social life in that city, flees to the countryside where he meets the young, naïve Tatyana. He coldly rejects Tatyana’s love, but several years later he comes to understand what a mistake he has made, and that it can no longer be corrected. The verse novel by Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, published in 1823-1831, became very popular in Russian society. It is no wonder that Tchaikovsky reached for it when he was searching for a theme for his fourth opera, or that he and the librettist Shilovsky kept an extensive part of Pushkin´s original text for the libretto. The composer subtitled the work a lyrical scene in three acts and, truly, Eugene Onegin is a remarkable combination of very intimate, chamber-style scenes with a theme that is most untypical and simple for a 19th century opera, a fact which lies in contrast with its romantic orchestration and choral scenes. It must be said that Tchaikovsky´s music strengthened the trueness and depth of Pushkin´s story, and particularly the moments when the main characters confess their love – whether it be Tatyana’s famous letter scene, Lensky’s farewell to life or Prince Gremin’s aria – rightfully rank amongst the most famous scenes in the opera repertoire.

 

Conductor: Robert Kružík
Stage Director: Martin Glaser
Set Design: Pavel Borák
Costume Design: Markéta Sedláčková
Lighting Desing: Martin Špetlík
Choreography: Martin Pacek
Chorus Master: Pavel Koňárek
Dramaturgy: Patricie Částková

Staged in the Russian original with Czech, English and German subtitles. The performance lasts about 2 hours 35 minutes, including one interval.

 

  • "The final scene between Tatyana and Onegin was breathtaking. The sheer amount of emotion, passion and acting prowess that both singers poured into it is a rare sight on the opera stage. Coupled with their powerful dramatic voices, it was quite simply a remarkable experience." operaplus.cz, Svatava Barančicová

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  • "The orchestra served as a reliable guide through the narrative – dramatic in Lensky’s fate motif, festively vibrant in the ballroom scenes, and tumultuous during Onegin’s struggle to win Tatyana back. We also heard several accomplished solos, most notably on the cello." operaplus.cz, Svatava Barančicová

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