CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA:  Starring as Olga in Eugene Onegin with the renowned Spoleto Festival USA

Conducted by Evan Rogister
Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng

Tchaikovsky’s full range of emotions is on display in Eugene Onegin—his grand opera based on Pushkin’s classic novel in verse. Russia’s wintery beauty—expressed in both simple country life and the glittering aristocracy of St. Petersburg—is the backdrop for this story about the tragedy of first love. Directed by Festival-favorite Chen Shi-Zheng (Matsukaze, 2013; Monkey: Journey to the West, 2008; The Peony Pavilion, 2004, among others), this work indulges Tchaikovsky’s soaring lyricism in Tatyana’s “letter aria” as well as the familiar elegance of his dance music in the ballroom waltz. Celebrated soprano Natalia Pavlova portrays Tatyana, whose transition from a naive girl to a complex woman has given this work a reputation for the most sophisticated character development in opera. Cast as Onegin, baritone Franco Pomponi employs his dramatic intensity and virility to portray the cold nobleman.

Sung in Russian with English supertitles.