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Eugene Onegin
Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky
February 26th, 28th March 1st March 2nd March 3rd - 2002
"Some of Tchaikovsky's most sensual music takes us into the world of Russian opera for the first time in Opera Pacific's history." |
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Act I
Scene 1: The Visit
Late summer on the estate of Madame Larina, a widow and landowner
The song of Tatyana and Olga recalls to Larina her own youth, her own infatuations and the arranged marriage she was forced to accept. Her fieldworkers come to celebrate the end of the harvest. Olga teases Tatyana about her romantic reveries. Lensky, a young poet and Olga’s fiancée, arrives and introduces his friend Onegin, who has recently inherited a nearby estate. Tatyana is at once attracted to him, but he only condescends to indicate his boredom with country life, while advising Lensky to marry Tatyana instead of Olga.
Scene 2: The Letter
Tatyana’s bedroom, that night
Tatyana is restless, devoured with love for Onegin, whom she believes is the hero of her dreams. She pours out her heart in a long, passionate and dangerous letter to him. In the morning, she dispatches her nurse, Filipyevna, to deliver it and at once has doubts concerning Onegin’s reaction to the way she has committed herself.
Scene 3: The Meeting
In the garden, the next morning
Tatyana’s doubts and foreboding prove to be well-founded when Onegin, in a charming and brotherly way, explains that love is not for him, and that she would be better advised to exercise more caution and self-control in the future. Tatyana is distraught.
Act II
Scene 1: The Country Ball
At Madame Larina’s house the following winter
Tatyana’s name day, the twelfth of January, is being celebrated with a ball. The occasion is clouded for Tatyana by the presence of Onegin, who regrets that he agreed to come to the ball with Lensky; he decides to have his revenge by flirting with Olga. The joke misfires — Lensky publicly insults Olga and challenges his friend to a duel. Onegin, regretting his actions, has to accept.
Scene 2: The Duel
At dawn the next morning
Both men regret their hasty behavior, but injured pride and convention inexorably provoke the duel. Neither man has any intention of shooting at the other but, by an accident of fate, Lensky is shot dead.
Act III
Scene 1: The Ball in St. Petersburg
Prince Gremin’s house, several years later
Onegin, haunted by his friend’s death, has been traveling in Europe ever since the duel, while Tatyana, like her mother before her, has been persuaded to accept a good marriage — with the distinguished elderly general, Prince Gremin. Onegin, unable to take any interest in life, is amazed to discover that the distinguished and beautiful wife of Gremin is Tatyana. Tatyana manages to betray nothing of her agitation at this meeting, but Onegin realizes what he has so foolishly rejected and decides that only she can rescue him from his present despair.
Scene 2: The Parting
The next morning
Now it is Onegin who has poured out his heart in a letter and Tatyana whose turn it is to dismiss him. This letter prompts her to close up the house and move to the country with her husband; but, before they can leave, Onegin arrives to declare his love and to throw himself on Tatyana’s mercy. At first she coolly reminds him of his allous behavior all those years ago. Both muse on the happiness that could have been theirs, and Tatyana finally admits her undying love for him, but states firmly her unswerving devotion to her husband. She bids him farewell forever and leaves him overcome with shame and despair. |
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