Eugene Onegin revival fails to find the magic spark in Toronto

Andrii Kymach (Onegin) and Lauren Fagan (Tatyana)

Canadian Opera Chorus

Lauren Fagan (Tatyana)

Lauren Fagan (Tatyana) and Andrii Kymach (Onegin)

By John Gilks, 03 May 2025

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“Lauren Fagan... sang a most beautiful Letter Scene”

Reviewed at Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto on 2 May 2025

Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin

Canadian Opera Company

Speranza Scappucci, Conductor

Robert Carsen, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Jean Kalman, Costume Designer

Canadian Opera Company Orchestra

Canadian Opera Company Chorus

Peter McClintock, Revival Director

Andrii Kymach, Eugene Onegin

Lauren Fagan, Tatyana

Megan Marino, Olga

Evan LeRoy Johnson, Lensky

Dimitry Ivashchenko, Prince Gremin

Krisztina Szabó, Madame Larina

Emily Treigle, Filippyevna

Michael Colvin, Monsieur Triquet

Duncan Stenhouse, Zaretsky

Gene Wu, Captain

Serge Bennathan, Choreography

Lepage’s Bluebeard and Erwartung pairing remains compelling theatre

John Gilks, 25th April

Some 30 years after its first appearance, Robert Lepage’s double bill of Duke Bluebeards Castle and Erwartung is still strikingly effective and very modern-looking music theatre.

*****

Canadian Opera Company’s Barber proves as fresh as ever

John Gilks, 5th February

The Barber is back in Toronto with an excellent cast, young and old, and it’s as lively, colourful and energetic as ever.

****1

Christopher Alden’s Rigoletto returns to Canadian Opera Company

Michelle Assay, 28th January

Christopher Alden’s Victorian-era Rigoletto still divides opinions, despite top-notch performances all around in this Toronto revival.

***11

Canadian Opera's Orfeo returns elegant, restrained and very satisfying

John Gilks, 9th October

The restrained beauty of Robert Carsen’s production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice is matched by musical elegance in its revival current revival at the Four Seasons Centre.

*****

Canadian Opera Company opens season with Roméo et Juliette

John Gilks, 27th September

Amy Lane’s production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at the COC is eye-catching and enjoyable but doesn’t offer the same level of insight as her Faust last season.

***11

COC triumphs with Kentridge’s brilliantly conceived Wozzeck

John Gilks, 25th April

William Kentridge's production of Berg’s Wozzeck has it all: wonderfully imaginative and disturbing designs, terrific acting and singing plus fabulous orchestral playing.

*****

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John Gilks

John trained as a mathematician before working all over the world in management consulting. He’s now settled in downtown Toronto as an e-health strategy consultant. His operatric interests are eclectic but lean to the very early and very modern. He is also passionate about art song. His writings can be found in Opera Canada magazine and in his blog. He is owned by a small, grey cat called Jane.