Еugene Оnegin Opera by P. I. Tchaikovsky

Libretto PI Tchaikovsky and Konstantin Shilovski

According to Pushkin's poem of the same name

 

Conductor - director KRASIMIR KOSTOV

Directed by ALEXANDER TEKELIEV

Choir Conductor - VYARA MIHAILOVA

Concertmaster - VANYA ZLATEV

 Actors:

Larina, the landowner

Tatiana, daughter of Larina

Olga, daughter of Larina

Philippine, nanny

Eugene Onegin

Lensky

Prince Gremin

Rottney

Zaretsky

Tricé, French

The action took place in St. Petersburg and in the countryside in the 1920s.

 

History of creation

 

      The period from May 1877 to January 1878 for Tchaikovsky was filled with great tension. Then he completed two of his most significant works - Symphony No. 4 and the opera "Eugene Onegin." On January 7, 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote to his brother Anatoly: "... Yesterday and today I sat without waking up and today completed my sweet symphony." One month later, on February 13, the same year he told Anatoly: " … I finished my opera today and sent it. ” On this day, he also wrote to his patron, Nadezhda von Mek: "Today, I enjoy the great pleasure of realizing that I have completed two major works (" Eugene Onegin "and the Fourth Symphony), with which I went much further ..."

   The idea for the creation of the opera "Eugene Onegin" was given to Tchaikovsky by his conservatory student, singer Lizaveta Lavrovska. In his letter of May 18, 1877, to his brother Modest Tchaikovsky, he wrote: “Last week I was in Lavrovska. The conversation was about plots and operas. Her stupid man was raving about unimaginable oddities and offering the most impossible stories. Elizabeth Andreevna smiled good-naturedly and suddenly said, "Would you take" Eugene Onegin "?" That thought seemed to be a wild one and I didn't say anything. Then, as I dined alone at the tavern, I thought of Onegin, though, and thought that Lavrovska's idea was possible, got into it and decided. I went home, spent a sleepless night, the result of which was a script of a wonderful opera by Pushkin's text… ”

   Tchaikovsky assigned the writing of the libretto to Konstantin Shilovsky, but he himself worked on it. After all, Schilowski's work remains only the verses of Tricé's couplets, and everything else is written by the composer himself.

   The premiere of "Eugene Onegin" is March 29, 1879. The opera is performed by students of the Moscow Conservatory under the direction of Nikolai Rubinstein. Shortly afterward, he also performed at the Bolshoi Theater.

   The first performance of Evgeny Onegin in Bulgaria was performed by the Opera Company in 1919 with conductor Todor Hadzhiev and director Hristo Popov.

 

Content

 

   Widow Larina lives alone in her village estate with her two daughters - Tatiana and Olga. At the end of the harvest, the villagers from the manor bring their mistress a bundle of wheat and sing songs. Olga's fiancée, the young poet Lenski, comes to visit and leads his friend Evgeny Onegin, who is bored here in the countryside. Dreamy Tatiana, at first sight, falls in love with Onegin.

   Tatiana is completely overwhelmed by her feelings for Onegin. They do not give her a moment's peace and the girl decides to write a letter to her chosen one. In it, the girl confesses his love and asks him for a date.

   Tatiana waits in the Onegin garden with awe and excitement. He comes politely, but coldly tells the girl that she cannot reciprocate her feelings. Onegin's refusal completely ruinsTatiana.

      On the occasion of Tatiana's birthday, many guests came to Larina's mansion. The French monsieur Tricé, surrounded by guests, sings couplets dedicated to the noun. Lensky again brought Onegin, who even here at the party, is bored. In order to entertain and at the same time irritate Lenski, Onegin starts courting the light-hearted Olga. Lensky's lover is outraged at his friend's frivolous demeanor and the vanity of his fiancee. Angered, he indiscriminately accuses and insults Onegin. A feud breaks out. Desperate Lenski throws her glove at Onegin. In vain, attendees try to reconcile friends. They will duel the next day.

   In the early morning, Lenski arrived at the duel location with his seconds, but his thoughts went to Olga. Onegin arrives late and leads his valet for a second. Both former friends are aware of the whole pointlessness of this duel, but their "heightened" sense of dignity and misunderstood pride does not allow them to reconcile. Zaretsky's second-in-command gives a signal, echoes a shot, and Lenski falls dead.

    After the death of Lensky, Onegin went abroad for a long time. Returning to St. Petersburg, he was invited to a ball at the home of his old friend Prince Gremin. To his great surprise, Onegin recognizes Gremin's wife Tatiana. The prince tells Onegin about his happy life and introduces him to his wife. Tatiana congratulates Onegin coolly and reservedly and then moves away. Onegin only now realizes what he has lost, repulsing her love. For the first time in his life, he is refused. 

    The haughty Onegin is engulfed in burning emotions and decides to meet Tatiana at any cost.

    Tatiana still loves Onegin and is now excitedly reading his letter. Onegin himself enters. Without waiting for an answer, he comes to her and reveals the kindling in his heart. Tatiana tells him about her sufferings, but to Onegin's requests for forgiveness, he replies that the past will never come back. She remained loyal to her husband.

   The desperate Onegin is left alone in the world again…