JEVGENIJ ONJEGIN

The lyrical opera Eugene Onegin is one of the greatest creations of Russian musical cosmopolite of the late romanticism, Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, who wrote the opera after the novel in verse of the same by Alexander Pushkin. The libretto was written by Konstantin Shilovsky, composer himself and his brother, Modest I. Tchaikovsky. As a prime example of lyrical opera, Eugene Onegine stays, in terms of linguistic structure and literary aesthetics, closely related to Pushkin’s original, while the poetic expression of Tchaikovsky’s music proves to be one of the first composer’s masterpieces. The story of the opera depicts the life or an everyday Russian "hero”, who lacks the true purpose and meaning of his endeavours, being egocentric and weary of everything; he even conceitedly refuses the loving affection of young Tatyana, which proves to be a very regrettable decision in his later life, along with the fateful duel with his best friend, Lensky. The first staging of opera was in Moscow in 1879, although Tchaikovsky began to compose the music most likely before May 1877, as is evident from correspondence with opera soprano, Yelizaveta Lavroskaya. Tchaikovsky created an episodic continuity of lyrical scene that forms the emotional world, especially the pathos of opera protagonists. Tchaikovsky thus focused mainly on the most important "moments” of Onegin’s life – youthful enthusiasm, increasing arrogance and egoism, erotic rejection of Tatyana, growing unrest – all the way to a gradual decline, apathy and final unfulfillment. Eugene Onegin was finished by January 1878, and staged the next year in Little Theatre in Moscow. The work was a great success, and has since been a significant item of staple repertory of major opera houses, as it combines complex vocal scoring with nuanced sound-scaping of expanded late romantic orchestra.

 

Cast
Tatyana - Sabina Cvilak

Yevgeny Onyegin - Konstantin Šušakov

Olga - Nuška Drašček Rojko

Lensky - Martin Sušnik 

Prince Gremin - Valentin Pivovarov

Larina - Irena Petkova

Filippyevna - Dada Kladenik

Triquet - Dušan Topolovec

Zaretsky - Alfonz Kodrič

 

Libretto Konstantin Shilovsky, Modest I. Tchaikovsky, Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky, after the novel in verse Yevgeniy Onyegin by Alexander Pushkin

 

Conductor Benjamin Pionnier

Director Ivan Popovski

 

Set Designer Marko Japelj

Costume Designer Suzana Rengeo

Choreographer, Assistant to Stage Director Aleksej Molostov

Lighting Designer Sašo Bekafigo, Ivan Popovski

Assistant to Conductor Živa Ploj Peršuh

Assistant to Stage Director Tanja Lužar