The famous verse novel by Alexander Puszkin was immortalised as one of the most outstanding operas in the history of Russian music and one of the few Slavic operas that have conquered international stages. Many sopranos dream of singing Tatyana's part. Two of them – Renee Fleming from the USA and Anna Netrebko from Russia – have attracted particularly huge interest in recent years. They created the role in New York’s Metropolitan Opera in different yet excellent productions.
Onegin – the baritone part – is a challenge for some singers, but the most beautiful male aria was written by Peter Tchaikovsky for Vladimir Lensky (tenor), Onegin's best friend. Beginning with words "Kuda, kuda", it is a pearl of international opera literature. A similar masterpiece is the entire scene of writing a letter by Tatyana, in which the composer showed an enchanting genius for capturing the entire range of feelings of a woman in love – from abashment to boldness and a passionate confession of love.
Many years after the previous staging, the Wroclaw production is being prepared by Yuri Alexandrov. He has already proven his skills in the excellent production of "Boris Godunov" by Modest Musorgsky, and now he is announcing strict adherence to the style from the time of creation of Pushkin's poem and a new perspective. "Peter Tchaikovsky originally wanted to use the title "Tatyana" instead of "Eugene Onegin"," points out the director. "I think it would be interesting to perform this play from Tatyana's point of view - from her childhood years through adolescence to the period when she becomes a woman," announces Yuri Aleksandrov. The number of planned decorations is not very large – the role of the stage design will be rather to indicate changes of mood.
The orchestra, the choir and the soloists will be conducted by Marcin Nałęcz-Niesiołowski. "To me, lyrical scenes are the most important in "Eugene Onegin" (in accordance with the subtitle of the opera), so I would like to pay attention to this aspect in the musical dimension," explains the conductor.
Listen to Artur Ruciński singing Onegin's aria
We can expect a sensational cast: Onegin's part will be sung (during various evenings) by three excellent baritones: Artur Ruciński – one of the best-known Polish opera singers, who is gaining international fame, Mariusz Godlewski – an already well-known singer liked by the Wroclaw audience, and Jacek Jaskuła, for whom this part is an important stage in his career. Tatyana’s part will be performed by Magdalena Molendowska and young Joanna Zawartko, and Lensky's role was entrusted to Nikolai Dorozhkhin, Arnold Rutkowski (whose career began in the Wroclaw Opera before he gave a brilliant performance during Placido Domingo’s famous Operalia competition) and Igor Stroin.
The premiere of "Eugene Onegin" will take place on the 7. of February at 7:00 p.m. (prices of tickets: 50-250 PLN). The second show will be staged on the 8. of February, also at 7:00 p.m. (prices of tickets: 30-170 PLN).
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