Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, P. I., From (2022/2022), Directed by Sergey Artsibashev, Conductor Andrey Lebedev, Evgeny Samoilov, Novaya Opera Theatre, Moscow, Russia

Staged in 1996, Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin in Evgeny Kolobov’s interpretation is a classical manifestation of and the ultimate in the author’s theatre, which the Novaya Opera was in the lifetime of its founding father. Kolobov engaged a remarkable creative team to work on the project. It was the conductor that became the chief invisible director of the production, defining its focal points and drama orientation. Evgeny Kolobov:“Eugene Onegin is virtually a tragedy. Anyway, that’s how I hear this opera, how I feel it. This is why, for me, this opera is a Duel, with the capital “D”, between Onegin and Lensky, Lensky and Olga, Onegin and Tatyana, Tatyana and Gremin. It is no coincidence that in the first version of the Tchaikovsky opera, the last words of the protagonist were: “O death, I’m looking forward to you!”, and with these words I finish my production.” In addition, in Kolobov’s version the final words are followed by the music of the fifth, “duel” scene (excerpts from the introduction and the theme of Lensky’s last aria).