Robert Carson's Critically Acclaimed Production
Published in the early 1800s, Pushkin's iconic tale of love and its eponymous protagonist served as a basis for many of his home country's literary heroes thereafter. Eugene Onegin's riveting tale of tragic romance was further immortalised by Romantic-era giant Tchaikovsky in 1879, and the opera's proudly Russian rhythms, heartrending duets and moving arias have kept it a firm favorite with audiences ever since. Experience its thrilling passion and emotion-stirring score during the Canada Opera Company's revival of Robert Carson's critically acclaimed Met Opera staging this fall.
Carson transports the action to Pushkin's times, setting the opera in the 20s and 30s with a minimalist design that shines a light firmly on the music. Bass-baritone Gordon Bitner stars as the dashing Onegin, who is introduced to Madame Larina and her two daughters Tatyana and Olga through Olga's poet fiance Lensky. Tatyana is immediately drawn to the handsome young man, but he arrogantly and coolly rejects her impulsive declaration of love, causing a cataclysm of death and love unreturned.