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Credits
Libretto by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Konstantin Shilovsky based on the novel in poetry of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. Stage version of the libretto by Vladimir Kekhman. Music editing by Vladimir Kekhman and Mikhail Tatarnikov.
Production Stage Director: Vladimir Kekhman
Musical Director and Conductor: Mikhail Tatarnikov
Stage Director: Yulia Prokhorova
Production Designer (set design): Vyacheslav Okunev
Costume Designer: Anna Efremova
Lighting Designer: Valentin Bakoyan
Video Designer: Vadim Dulenko
Choreographer: Alexander Omar
Chief Choirmaster: Vyacheslav Podyelsky
Choirmaster: Sergey Tenitilov
Assistants to Production Stage Director: Igor Bondarenko, Nikolay Natsybulin
Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin is one of the main symbols of Russian culture, and in the year of the 225th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin, this outstanding work returns to the Grand Stage of NOVAT. The production director of the performance is Vladimir Kekhman, who staged the opera The Lady with Camellias on the stage of the Mikhailovsky Theatre, which captivated the audience of St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Referring to Tchaikovsky's famous “lyrical scenes”, Vladimir Kekhman gives the public the opportunity to take a fresh look at familiar characters, their destinies and the motives driving their actions. The audience will see homages to iconic productions of the 20th and 21st centuries – performances by Konstantin Stanislavsky (1922), Boris Pokrovsky (1943), Yuri Temirkanov (1982) and Dmitri Tcherniakov (2006) – unexpected plot twists and brilliant music editing by Mikhail Tatarnikov.
PROLOGUE
The performance begins with a scene of a high-society ball in St. Petersburg. Onegin is among the guests, he has just returned from abroad. Neither travel nor social pleasures can dispel his heartsinking. Prince Gremin introduces Onegin to his wife; she is the center of attention of polite society. With amazement, Onegin recognizes Tatiana who once confessed her love to him in her youth…
ACT 1
We are transferred back in time, to the day of the first meeting of the main characters.
The Larins' estate with its ordered life. Tatiana and Olga, the daughters of the lady of the house, receive guests: the Larins' neighbor Lensky, Olga's fiance, introduces his friend Onegin, who recently arrived from the capital. Lensky speaks to Olga, and a new acquaintance converses with Tatiana, who is excited about this meeting.
Tatiana's room in the late evening. Sisters Tatiana and Olga have heart talk and joke before going to bed. Olga, copying the nanny, finds out the secrets of her sister, leads her to admit: “I'm in love”, and leaves her alone with her dreams. At night, left alone, Tatiana writes a letter to Onegin with a declaration of love.
The garden at the Larins' estate. Tatiana is anxiously waiting for an answer to the letter. Onegin appears; he is touched by the confession, but is cold with her: he explains that he was not created for family life and cannot return her love.
ACT 2
The ball at the Larins' house. Guests have gathered for Tatiana's name day. A provincial holiday irritates Onegin, who hears unflattering judgments about himself. He is angry at Lensky, who persuaded him to come here, and in retort begins to make court to Olga. Lensky is shocked by the act of the friend and the betrayal of Olga, who graciously accepts attentions from another. He challenges Onegin to a duel. All attempts to reconcile the rivals are unsuccessful.
Winter garden. Before the fight, Lensky is full of sad forebodings. Onegin appears with a second. Former friends can still reconcile, but considerations of honour prevail. A shot rings out – Lensky is killed…
We return to the ball at the house of Prince Gremin in St. Petersburg. Gremin introduces a friend to his wife. She recognizes Onegin, but does not betray her excitement. Amazed by Tatiana's transformation, he realizes that he is in love.
The living room in Gremin's house. Tatiana reads Onegin's letter in tears. Suddenly, he appears and, with a passionate plea, pulls out a response confession. But Tatiana's decision is irrevocable: she will remain faithful to her husband. Onegin realizes that he has lost her forever.