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Eugene Onegin (opera) - Definition and Overview |
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Eugene Onegin (also written Yevgeny Onegin) is a Russian opera in three acts by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The libretto was written by K. Shilovsky and the composer, and is based very closely on the novel in verse of same name, Eugene Onegin, by Aleksandr Pushkin.
It was first performed in Moscow in 1879.
In the plot of the opera, the selfish hero (a baritone) lives to regret his blasé rejection of a young woman's love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend.
The most famous arias in the opera include:
- Lensky's reflection just before the duel
- Prince Gremin's aria about Tatyana
- Tatyana's letter aria
The music for the opera also includes some well known dance numbers, usually performed as ballet set pieces within the opera performance.
Eugene Onegin is part of the standard operatic repertoire.
There are a several recordings of it, and it is regularly performed.
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