01/18/14 – Eugene Onegin – 1:00pm

Metropolitan Opera

Eugene Onegin by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Librettists Konstantin Shilovsky and Peter Tchaikovsky

Sung in Rissian
Approximate running time 3 hrs. 25 min.

Marina Poplavskaya and Peter Mattei take on the roles of the lovestruck Tatiana and the imperious Onegin in Deborah Warner’s new production of Tchaikovsky’s fateful romance, which opened the Met season in September, directed by Fiona Shaw. Rolando Villazón is Lenski, Onegin’s friend-turned-rival, in his first performances on the Met stage since 2009. Russian maestro Alexander Vedernikov makes his company debut on the podium.
“The charismatic baritone Peter Mattei sounded lustrous as the title character, vividly conveying Onegin’s transformation from the aloof, coldhearted bachelor who patronizingly rejects Tatiana to the heartbroken man who realizes, too late, that he loves her.”

Marina Poplavskaya offered an “arresting portrayal” of Tatiana. “[S]he brought an intense vulnerability to the role…rendering her awkwardness and torment in the first act particularly acute.”

Rolando Villazón as Lenski “sang with confidence and poise… His impassioned delivery and heartfelt demeanor rendered his portrayal of the love-struck young poet entirely convincing.”

“Stefan Kocan sang with dignity and powerful low notes as Gremin, Tatiana’s husband. The supple-voiced mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova made a winning house debut as a flirtatious, lively Olga.”

Conductor Alexander Vedernikov led “a supple and passionate rendition of Tchaikovsky¹s gorgeous score.”

—New York Times

 

Cast/Crew

Tags:met opera