Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents EUGENE ONEGIN, 2/26

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents an unforgettable romantic tragedy about unrequited love and its unintended consequences. Tchaikovsky's glorious music plus Pushkin's poetic tale come alive in a beautiful production with a terrific international cast. Eugene Onegin is a musical wonder and revelation, especially for those familiar only with his Nutcracker ballet.

Eugene Onegin opens on Sunday, February 26, with eight performances through March 20 at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets are available now at lyricopera.org/eugene-onegin or at 312-827-5600.

The impressionable country girl Tatiana Larina (Ana María Martínez, role debut) falls in love with the sophisticated Eugene Onegin (Mariusz Kwiecie?). She confesses her love to him in a letter, which he rejects with a patronizing offer of brotherly friendship. When he flirts with her sister Olga (Alisa Kolosova/American operatic debut) at a party, Onegin is challenged to a duel by his best friend and Olga's fiancé, the hotheaded Lensky (Charles Castronovo), and tragedy ensues. Years pass; the remorseful Onegin returns to St. Petersburg, where he encounters Tatiana, now married to Prince Gremin (Dmitry Belosselskiy). Onegin finally realizes his feelings for her and deluges her with passionate letters. Can he rekindle the love he'd rejected earlier? (Additional roles include the girls' mother Mme. Larina/Katharine Goeldner, their nanny Filipyevna/Jill Grove, and their tutor Triquet/Keith Jameson.)

Alejo Pérez (Lyric debut) conducts. Paula Suozzi is the revival director of the production originally directed by Robert Carsen and designed by Michael Levine, with lighting designed by Christine Binder. Michael Black is chorus master and Serge Bennathan is choreographer.

"Eugene Onegin is the most beloved of all Russian operas, and I'm excited to bring it to Lyric with a cast of true singing actors," says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director, president & CEO. "As the central couple, we have two great Lyric favorites - Mariusz Kwiecie?, internationally celebrated for his portrayal of Onegin, and Ana María Martínez, singing her first Tatiana after many huge successes at Lyric, including the title role in Rusalka and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. With two other renowned artists, Charles Castronovo and Dmitriy Belosselskiy, in key roles, and with the marvelous young conductor Alejo Pérez making his company debut, we can count on a top-flight Eugene Onegin in the sublime production by Robert Carsen that riveted Lyric audiences previously."

Adds Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director, "The matchlessly beautiful melodies of this opera, combined with the devastatingly moving story, give it an eternal appeal and audiences never fail to lose their hearts to it."

The opening performance of Eugene Onegin can be heard live locally on 98.7WFMT and globally on wfmt.com, beginning at 1:45pm on February 26. Listeners will have access to line-by-line translations in real time online at lyricoperalive.org.

For information about the production and press ticketing please contact press@lyricopera.org.

About Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Sir Andrew Davis, and Creative Consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric's current season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #Lyric1617 #LongLivePassion

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