Finland Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Alan Buribayev (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 9.2.2024. (AA)
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Production:
Director, Sets, Lighting design – Marco Arturo Marelli
Costumes – Dagmar Niefind
Cast:
Eugene Onegin – Iurii Samoilov
Tatyana – Aisté Piliba
Lensky – Tigran Hakobyan
Olga – Anna Erokhina
Larina – Natalia Vinogradova
Filipyevna – Merle Silmato
Prince Gremin – Matti Turunen
Triquet – Roland Liiv
Captain / Zaretsky – Sampo Haapaniemi
Guillot – Juhana Suninen
Soloist in the chorus – Yusniel Estrada Viciedo
The Finnish National Opera’s Eugene Onegin returns full of subtle emotions.
Unlike many other operas, Eugene Onegin is not dramatic in terms of its events. The libretto is based on Pushkin’s poetic novel. Tchaikovsky’s choice of libretto indicates that he was not very interested in the traditional means of operatic narrative. Instead, he sought to capture the emotions and inner words of the main characters. With this simplified story, Tchaikovsky has succeeded in creating a wistful masterpiece whose timeless sound speaks to new audiences year after year.
Swiss director Marco Arturo Marelli is in charge not only of the direction, but also the sets and lighting of this production of Eugene Onegin. He tells Onegin’s story in flashbacks. During the prelude, before even a note is sung, the final image is shown to the viewers. In it, Onegin (Iurii Samoilov) tries to the very end to win over his beloved Tatyana (Aisté Piliba). But she is adamant: it is too late; he missed his opportunities long ago. The story then unfolds as Onegin reminiscences.
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The staging by Marelli is elegant and simple. The stage is dominated by a large room with both floor and walls sloping in different directions. There are only a few framing elements on the stage, but they are skillfully used to transform the space into a maid’s chamber, a banqueting hall or a garden setting. At the back of the stage, the audience is offered an enchanting view of northern nature, a park bench resting by a diagonal slope. The outdoor atmosphere changes from a serene spring setting into icy snowfall for the duel between Onegin and Lensky. The lighting enhances what we see with etherical and dreamy tones.
Marelli uses symbolism in many instances. The hero arrives for his first encounter with Tatyana straight from a hunting trip and hands the catch of the day in form of game birds to Tatyana’s mother. The hunting theme continues at the ball, where the guests frolic in animal masks and shoot party glitter with fake guns. Aptly, masks conceal real emotions here. Another theme in this piece is letter writing. Late at night, Tatyana writes her love letter to Onegin. The ‘letter aria’ sung by young Lithuanian talent Aisté Piliba (who shares the role of Tatyana with Elisaveta Rimkevitch) is very evocative. Her voice is full of desire and longing for an unattainable love. Towards the end, it is Onegin’s turn to write to Tatyana.
Iurii Samoilov as Onegin is a capable main character, portraying a self-confident hero and his rejection of Tatyana, murder of friend Lensky (Tigran Hakobyan), and, eventually, return to Tatyana. Cheerful and captivating Anna Erokhina sang, laughed and danced herself into everybody’s hearts in the role of Tatyana’s sister Olga. Roland Tiiv was an entertaining master of ceremonies as a Monsieur Triquet. A particularly wonderful moment was in the last act, when Tatyana’s husband, Prince Gremin (Matti Turunen) sings to Onegin how much he loves his wife Tatyana.
Alan Buribayev is a gifted young conductor who eloquently expressed the sensitivity of the piece and the nuances that the characters’ feelings – both hidden and revealed – contain. He was well supported by a fine chorus and orchestra.
FNO’s classical setting of Eugene Onegin enhances the delicacy of Tchaikovsky’s music. These melodies express true longing and loneliness: after all, anyone who has been young can identify with the pain and uncertainty of recognising and expressing emotions.
Further performances of Eugene Onegin are on February 22, 24, March 6, 8, 14, 16, 19.
Anna Aalto