Eugen Onegin - Schedule, Program & Tickets

In Russian with German and English surtitles

Lyrical scenes in three acts - libretto by Konstantin S. Schilowski

A skeptical, bored and indecisive young man and an idealistic, sensitive and passionate young woman who always meet in the wrong place at the wrong time - this is the story of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's opera "Eugene Onegin". The young Tatyana is in love with Eugene, but he considers their love irrelevant and rejects Tatyana. At a ball, he also insults her brother Lenski, who then challenges him to a duel, which ends fatally for Lenski. Years later, Onegin, now disillusioned with life, returns to the countryside, where he meets Tatyana, who is now married and has blossomed in her role as a lady of society. Onegin now recognizes his love for her, but it is too late. Tatyana firmly rejects Onegin and remains faithful to her husband.

Deeply emotional and rich in melodic beauty, Tchaikovsky combines Russian folk melodies with classical European traditions in this opera, creating a unique musical language. The contrasts between the inner conflicts of the characters and the external social expectations make "Eugene Onegin" a profound work that deals with both personal and universal themes such as love, remorse and human fallibility.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) began work on "Eugene Onegin" (based on the verse novel of the same name by Alexander Pushkin) in 1877. After the success of his ballets
"The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake", he now wanted to make a name for himself as an opera composer and was under pressure to live up to expectations. The first performance in front of a large audience took place on 23 January 1881 at the Bolshoi Theatre and was a great success.

Director Alexandra Liedtke and her experienced team, set designer Philip Rubner and costume designer Su Bühler, have dedicated themselves to this great work of Russian opera. This is the second time they have brought their experience from home and abroad to the Salzburg State Theater. The production explores the complex psychological processes in Tchaikovsky's work.

Subject to change without notice.