Alexander Pushkin
Other operas based on stories or poems by Alexander Pushkin:
The Miserly Knight - Sergei Rachmaninov
Boris Godounov (Boris Godounoff, Boris Godunov) - Modest Mussorgsky
The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame) - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
The Golden Cockerel (Zolotoy petushok, Le Coq d'Or) - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Eugene Onegin - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Information about the opera Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Tchaikovsky's marvellous version of Pushkin's poem.
Recommended recordings on CD
Bychkov/Hvorostovsky/Focile (Philips 438 235-2)
A superb recording with a perfect cast makes this the best stereo version.
St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, 1992.
Cast: Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Eugene Onegin), Nuccia Focile (Tatyana), Neil Shicoff (Lensky), Olga Borodina (Olga).
Philips 438 235-2
Khaikin/Belov/Vishnevskaya (Opera D'Oro 1197)
The classic version of Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, with excellent sound for its age.
Bolshoi Theatre Chorus, Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Boris Khaikin, 1955.
Cast: Eugene Belov (Eugene Onegin), Galina Vishnevskaya (Tatyana), Sergei Lemechev (Lensky), Larissa Avdeyeva (Olga).
Opera D'Oro 1197 (mono)
Recommended recordings on DVD
Ticciati/Keenlyside/Stoyanova (Opus Arte OA 1120 D)
Using doubles to suggest the paths taken by Onegin and Tatyana, with dancers playing their younger selves, this is an original production, recorded live at the Royal Opera House in 2013, with a superb performance by Krassimira Stoyanova.
Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, conducted by Robin Ticciati.
Cast: Simon Keenlyside (Eugene Onegin), Krassimira Stoyanova (Tatyana), Pavol Breslik (Lensky), Elena Maximova (Olga).
Opus Arte OA 1120 D
Jansons/Skovhus/Stoyanova (OA 1067 D)
A bizarre production that depends on several time-shifts, and will be incomprehensible to anyone who is not already very familiar with the story. Otherwise, beautifully played and sung.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, conducted by Mariss Jansons, 2011.
Cast: Bo Skovhus (Eugene Onegin), Krassimira Stoyanova (Tatyana), Andrej Dunaev (Lensky), Elena Maximova (Olga).
OA 1067 D