Opera matinee: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin

It’s the tragic story of a young girl who falls passionately in love and a man whose youthful arrogance dooms them both to a life of misery. Simon Keenlyside and Krassimira Stoyanova bring both experience and dynamic energy to the protagonists in Tchaikovsky’s lyric tragedy, recorded at the Royal Opera House in London in February 2013. Tatyana and Onegin meet on her family’s country estate in Russia. She falls instantly in love, and pours out her feelings in a letter. But Onegin rejects her, saying he’s not cut out for married life. To make his point, he flirts with her sister, Olga, who’s engaged to his best friend, Lensky. The two men fight a duel, Lensky is killed, and Onegin flees. Years later, he turns up to a ball in St Petersburg and sees Tatyana again, now a married woman. He realises, too late, that he loves her after all. Robin Ticciati conducts the orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Presented by Hannah French.

Sung in English.

Performers

Krassimira Stoyanova soprano
Simon Keenlyside baritone
Diana Montague mezzo-soprano
Kathleen Wilkinson mezzo-soprano
Elena Maximova mezzo-soprano
Elliot Goldie tenor
Pavol Breslik tenor
Christoph Montagne tenor
Michel De Souza baritone
Jihoon Kim bass
Peter Rose bass
Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
Robin Ticciati conductor

For free. Radio broadcast by BBC Radio