Eugene Onegin (Overture Opera Guides)

Eugene Onegin is the most popular of Tchaikovsky's operas. Entitled ‘Lyrical Scenes after Pushkin'by the composer, the work takes as its basis the poem of the same name by the great Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. Its story of the unrequited love of Tatyana for the world-weary Onegin has exerted an irresistible hold over audiences for over a hundred years. With its combination of intimate private moments and sumptuous public scenes, the opera is one of the most fully achieved ever written. In this guide there is an article comparing Pushkin's original with its treatment in the opera, a detailed musical analysis and an appreciation of Tchaikovsky's particular skill as a word-setter. An essay on its performance history details the contributions of the most notable artists who have taken part in productions of the work. Illustrations, a thematic guide, the full libretto with English translation and reference sections are also included. Contains: Pushkin into Tchaikovsky, Caryl Emerson Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Roland John Wiley An Appreciation of Eugene Onegin, Natalia Challis A Domestic Love, Marina Frolova-Walker Eugene Onegin: A Selective Performance History, John Allison Eugene Onegin: Libretto by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Konstantin Shilovsky and Modest Tchaikovsky after the novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin Eugene Onegin: English Translation by Opernführer Contents List of Illustrations Pushkin into Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin An Appreciation of Eugene Onegin A Domestic Love Eugene Onegin: A Selective Performance History Thematic Guide Eugene Onegin Note on the Text Act One Act Two Act Three Select Discography Eugene Onegin on DVD, a Selection Select Bibliography Tchaikovsky Websites Note on the Contributors Acknowledgements