Eugene Onegin

The opera is full of drama, as well as quiet village scenes and a lavish ball, so there is something here for everyone, as four young people navigate romance in the company of villagers, a parent, a soldier and a prince in the Steppes of Russia.  The opening set was ingenious, being created from a projection onto the back curtain of the image of a harvest field and distant view, enhanced by the rows of standing corn onstage.  These created clear pathways across the stage yet gave the impression of a single large field ready for harvest, enabling the cast to play with the heads of corn as they walked through the ‘field’ picking the wheat.  The set changes – to become the duel clearing, with sparse trees, the house with a party in progress and the palace ball room – were effectively done and with changes in lighting brought a good variety of mood to the opera.  Tatyana’s married home and ballroom were particularly well created with stylish window seats and large windows that opened.  

I really liked the way that the sides of the stage were used by the chorus, with small groups gathered at the edge of the stage area and chatting – most effective.  Stage lighting was very good, unobtrusive and with good cues, creating sunshine on the harvest field and subdued soft lighting in the ball scene, and changing the mood.  The props were both appropriate and well used, with much thought having gone into their supply and removal.

The music was very good, employing a full range of volume, intensity and diversity of mood, with some highly effective pauses at times giving emphasis to very emotional sections of the score. Having the orchestra at the back of the stage behind a gauze also helped the singers to be heard more clearly in the auditorium. There was very good pace to the production, too, and some lovely variations in tempo that gave good support to the singers, while the sensitive choreography helped create the various moods for the scenes. However, it was the singers who were crucial to the opera, in portraying the teenage main characters at the beginning and then aging to mid-twenties by the end.  It was lovely to see younger people singing these roles, as they have the elasticity in the vocal range and timbre, an authentic look, natural body language and lively facial expression.  The costumes for the production were very    good, with the pale colours of the rural costumes forming a strong contrast with the darker stage, while the costumes for the party and ball were sumptuous for the ladies and the gentlemen all looked the part at every turn, with the prince in his uniform and the gentlemen in tails and bow ties for the ball after workwear costumes earlier on.  

Altogether this was a hugely enjoyable evening of exceptionally good music and drama.  The production worked very well as an entity, with smooth transitions from one section to another, and it was a great pleasure to see and hear such talented young singers taking on such challenging roles.  The whole event was lively, charming and yet another very accomplished production by this experienced and very able company.  Congratulations to you all!

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