Taking a spell from their ongoing successful national tour, Co-Opera returns home to Adelaide for a brief break from travelling to present the home crowd with their most ambitious and splendid production to date, Tchaikovsky's sweeping opera Eugene Onegin.
Deliciously romantic, Eugene Onegin with Tchaikovsky's luscious music brings together all the necessary components of a great opera: Wonderful singers, glorious costumes, ballroom scenes, country house scenes, happy peasants, rich, handsome aristocrats, ballgowns by the score. Oh, and an interesting tale; an opera where the soprano doesn't die!
But there's also passion and drama and as Brian Chatterton explained: "Eugene Onegin is in the high romantic idiom."
And, of course Co-Opera's productions are seated cabaret style, so you can bring your Stoli and Beluga and pretend that you too are part of the rich, pre-revolution, Russian aristocracy.
Two casts of thirteen singers will share roles over the four nights of performance, joining some Co-Opera stalwarts are some exciting new voices making their debut, all accompanied by an orchestra of eight musicians.
Costumes and set design for Eugene Onegin are by talented Miranda Hampton, direction by the acclaimed
Tessa Bremner OAM, MCA, ASM and orchestra directed by Co-Opera Director Brian Chatterton OAM.
First performed in March 1879 Eugene Onegin went on to conquer Europe. Tchaikovsky's music and the words of Alexander Pushkin tell a tale of the unrequited love of Tatiana a young and romantically inclined wealthy country girl.
The object of her love is a shallow, but handsome and rich aristocrat, Onegin. It was love at first sight for Tatiana and, being an unsophisticated romantic, she declared her love for him in a letter. He coldly and arrogantly rejects her love as inappropriate, leaving her devastated and crushed.
After a misadventure involving the death of his friend, for which he was responsible, Onegin then travels the world, living his empty life of leisure and wealth. But he and Tatiana are destined to meet once again.
Several years later at a ball in Moscow Onegin espies the sophisticated, beautiful woman that Tatiana has become and realises what a fool he has been. He expresses his love for her and begs her to leave her husband Prince Gremin and go with him.
Tatiana, whilst still in love with Onegin, doubts his motives, remembering the naïve young girl he unkindly rejected and in whom he is now interested, now she is a woman of wealth and social standing. Wisely, she chooses to stay with her husband and Onegin, heartbroken, is in turn spurned.
Says Brian Chatterton, OAM "There are few operas that offer as much dramatically rich music, emotional colour and movement as this romantic, sumptuous and tragic opera."
Director
Tessa Bremner says: "Of all the operas I have directed, Eugene Onegin has been my dream opera. Directing it has given me many facets of pleasure. The music, the dancing and the emotional journey have all enriched my heart but also reading Pushkin's original text."
For more information visit
www.co-opera.com.au.
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