Tchaikovsky Opera Eugene Onegin
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 'Yevgeny Onyegin' in Three Acts
Sep 16, 2007
Russian composer Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's opera in three acts, Eugene Onegin (Yevgeny Onyegin), inspired by one of Alexander Pushkin's most loved poems, is considered Russia's most popular opera.
- Libretto: Konstantin Shilovsky and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Based on the verse novel by Alexander Pushkin.
- Language: Russian
- First performance: Moscow, Moscow Conservatoire, March 29, 1879.
- Setting: Larin country estate near St Petersburg, in late 18th century. Lyric scenes. Set numbers with accompanied recitative.
For all its big bourgeois scenes, this opera has a delicate chamber quality evoking an aura of intimacy. The first two acts breathe the fragrant atmosphere of Russian country life of the period. The brilliant composer Tchaikovsky successfully catches the mood of Pushkin's lovely poem. The core of the opera is Tatyana's heart. The interplay of the characters is handled in a sensitive naturalistic way, which clearly connects to Tchaikovsky's own love life.
If one is familiar with the intensity and rhetorics of Tchaikovsky's concerti and symphonies, Yevgeny Onegin exudes a different musical form that is charming, where the melody is gentle, and the orchestration, delicate. It is written in separate numbers but far from formal. Converstation breaks in the solos, and the use of dance music as background to the dramatic moments in the two lively, but contrasted party scenes is masterful. The high points are the "Letter" scene, two arias by Lenski, and the long duet in the final scene. The romantic mood established from the beginning is consistently sustained.
The Main Characters in Eugene Onegin (Yevgeny Onyegin)
- Vladimir Lenski, Olga's fiancé (tenor)
- Eugene Onegin, his friend and Tatyana's beloved (baritone)
- Madame Larina, estate owner (mezzo-soprano)
- Tatyana, eldest daughter of Larina (soprano)
- Olga, youngest daughter of Larina (contralto)
- Filipyevna, an elderly maid, Tatyana's nurse (mezzo-soprano)
- Monsieur Triquet, a Frenchman (tenor)
- Prince Gremin, a retired general and Tatyana's husband (bass)
- Mute: Monsieur Guillot.
Plot Summary (Synopsis) of Eugene Onegin (Yevgeny Onyegin):
Act 1
Tatyana and Olga sing duets of love and life while Madame Larina reminisces about her youth with Filipyevna. The peasants have gathered in the harvest, and dance to amuse their mistress. Olga's suitor, Lenski, arrives with a friend Onegin.
Tatyana falls in love with Onegin and tells Filipyevna about it. Tatyana writes a long passionate love letter to Onegin, which Filipyevna agrees to deliver. Onegin rejects Tatyana, telling her he is not made for marriage and hopes she'll find someone else.
Act 2
Tatyana holds a birthday ball. The party was attended by Lenski and Onegin. Out of boredom, Onegin flirts with Olga. Lenski gets angry, picks a fight with Onegin. Reluctantly, Onegin agrees to a duel, In the duel's course, Onegin fires and kills Lenski.
Act 3
Few years pass. Onegin, who has been abroad, returns to St Petersburg. A ball is being held. Onegin attends it where he encounters Tatyana – now married to Prince Gremin. Tatyana's transformation from a country girl to a dazzling princess captivates him.
This time Onegin declares his love for Tatyana. She in turn accuses him of loving her now only because of her status quo. Although in her heart, Tatyana still loves Onegin, she decides to be faithful to Gremin. She sends Onegin away.
Sources:
Opera, Dorling Kindersley (DK) Eyewitness Companions (2006)
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera by H. Rosenthal and J. Barrack (1964)
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