Eugene Onegin

Amid warnings from friends and colleagues that the material wasn’t dramatic enough and offered too little action for the stage, Tchaikovsky pressed ahead anyway and composed his intimate «lyrical scenes», as he named his opera Jewgeni Onegin. Soon after its Moscow premiere, Onegin established itself as one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular operas. With its open structure, which focuses on the inner lives of its young protagonists, this tragic story of missed opportunity points far ahead into the future of music theater.

For her entire life, Tatjana has lived apart from society, interested only in the love stories in her books. Then she sees Onegin, and falls in love with him at first sight. But he is a spoiled, condescending intellectual. On the night of their first meeting, she writes him a rapturous letter, professing her love for him and placing her fate in his hands. He coldly rejects her – he is not made for marriage, and could only love her as a brother. Later, when Onegin flirts with Tatjana’s sister Olga at a ball, his friend Lenski challenges him to a duel, for Lenski loves Olga. Onegin shoots Lenski. Years later, Tatjana and Onegin unexpectedly meet again. Tatjana is now the wife of the rich Prince Gremin. Onegin’s effusive confession of love comes too late.

In the revival of Barrie Kosky’s highly acclaimed production, the title role is played by young Russian baritone Konstantin Shushakov. Pavol Breslik returns to sing the role of Lenski. Gelena Gaskarova, a member of the ensemble of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg will make her debut at the Opernhaus Zuürich as Tatjana. Kirill Karabits, who will open the season conducting Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunow, will conduct.