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    Tchaikovsky

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    Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin: a beginner's guide

    Get to know the romance and tragedy of Tchaikovsky's beautiful opera, Eugene Onegin, with pictures from the Metropolitan Opera in New York, starring Anna Netrebko as leading lady Tatiana.

    1. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      1. Madam Larina and Filippyevna

      The curtain rises and we meet Madam Larina, the lady of the manor, and the nanny, Filippyevna, discussing what it was like to be young and beautiful.

    2. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      2. Tatiana and Olga

      As the older ladies reminisce, they can hear the strains of Larina's two daughters, Tatiana and Olga, singing a love song.

    3. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      3. Bookish Tatiana

      It's been a hard day's work in the fields, and the peasants drag themselves in from the fields with as much harvested hay as they can carry. Olga joins in the celebrations, teasing Tatiana for keeping her nose firmly in a romantic novel.

    4. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      4. Introducing Lensky and Eugene Onegin

      Lensky, a young poet, turns up with his friend Eugene Onegin from St Petersburg.

    5. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      5. Lensky and Olga

      It transpires Lensky's engaged to extrovert Olga, much to the surprise of Onegin, who's got his eye on the bookish Tatiana.

    6. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      6. Tatiana falls in love

      While Olga and Lensky go off together, Onegin makes quite an impression on the young Tatiana. After dinner, Tatiana blurts out that she's in love with Onegin to the nanny, and starts to write him a love letter.

    7. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      7. Tatiana writes to Eugene Onegin

      Tatiana stays up all night pouring out her feelings in the letter, explaining she'll never feel like this about anyone else. When the shepherd's pipe warns her it's morning, she gives the letter to Filippyevna to deliver to her beloved.

    8. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      8. Heartbreak

      Onegin comes back to give Tatiana the answer to her letter; she's been waiting anxiously for him to come back to hear what he says. Unfortunately, he has to let her down gently, explaining he's not cut out for marriage. Tatiana can't reply, and runs away heartbroken.

    9. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      9. Celebrations at the ball

      It's the start of Act II, and everyone's celebrating Tatiana's name day with a festive ball. She's dancing with Onegin, but it's provoking quite a reaction from the neighbours who are all gossiping about the young couple.

    10. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      10. Onegin flirts with Olga

      Onegin decides to dispel the rumours by flirting with Olga, Tatiana's sister: funnily enough, her fiancé isn't best pleased about this, and it causes an argument.

    11. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      11. Chaos at the ball

      Lensky and Onegin argue fiercely until Madame Larina is forced to remove them from the house. Unfortunately, she can't get them to leave, and Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel. Adding to the drama, Tatiana collapses, and the ball ends in confusion and chaos.

    12. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      12. Lensky and Onegin fight

      After reluctantly accepting the duel, Onegin turns up to fight Lensky. Lensky, meanwhile, is reflecting on his life, thinking about what might happen if he's killed. He imagines his beloved, Olga, sadly visiting his grave.

    13. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      13. Lensky is killed

      Both friends, now with their backs to each other, sing how they would rather laugh together than fight. Unfortunately, neither of them can get over their pride, and Onegin shoots Lensky dead.

    14. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      14. Eugene Onegin's loneliness

      Act III begins with Onegin standing alone at his cousin's extravagant party, reflecting on how empty his life is now. He's been travelling around Europe, but he hasn't been able to escape his guilt or loneliness.

    15. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      15. Tatiana appears

      As he stares across the room, Onegin sees Tatiana coming down the staircase, wearing an exquisite ball gown. He asks his cousin, Prince Gremin, about her.

    16. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      16. Prince Gremin

      The Prince proudly explains that Tatiana is his wife, and reintroduces her to Onegin - without realising the couple's past history. Tatiana is overwhelmed with emotion and tactfully excuses herself.

    17. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      17. Tatiana leaves

      Tatiana, surrounded by guests of a high standing is overwhelmed with emotion and tactfully excuses herself.

    18. Anna Netrebko Metropolitan opera

      18. Tatiana agrees to meet Onegin

      Onegin writes to Tatiana, explaining how he feels, and asking to meet.

    19. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      19. The couple are reunited

      Onegin enters and confesses his love for her, but Tatiana's sceptical: is he just in love with her newfound social status?

    20. Anna Netrebko at the Metropolitan Opera

      20. Onegin is banished

      Onegin swears his love is genuine, but Tatiana doesn't give in to his advances: she intends to stay faithful to her husband despite her strong feelings for Onegin. She asks him to leave and bids him farewell forever, leaving him to wallow in despair.

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