26.10.2012
‘Tell me, which one is Tatiana?’
Two days before the new version of Eugene Onegin is performed for the public, the production team have named the casts of singers for the première. They include leading artists from the Mikhailovsky Theatre, guest soloists of European fame, and young performers who will be making their debut on the professional opera scene.
In the performance, Tatiana is onstage almost continually, with all the action revolving around her. In the première on 26 October, Tatiana Ryaguzova will play Tatiana; the singer has many leading roles in her repertoire, including those in La Juive, Rusalka, La Bohème, and Iolanta, and she has already sung the part of Tatiana in a previous version of Onegin. However, she feels that the ‘new Tatiana’ is unlike anything she has sung before. „I won’t deny that we had to push ourselves to the absolute lim its physically, emotionally, and in our singing, in order to achieve the producers’ aims“, admitted Ryaguzova after the run-through, „but despite the tiredness, I can’t wait for the première.“ On 27 October, Tatiana will be played by Gelena Gaskarova, a soloist from the Mariinsky Academy of Young Singers.
The part of Onegin will be sung by Janis Apeinis, a Latvian singer who is considered one of the best baritones in Eastern Europe. He has played the leading role in Tchaikovsky’s opera in the productions of five different opera houses, but sees this performance before the St. Petersburg public as a great stroke of fortune. „I am unbelievably happy to have the chance to perform in St. Petersburg, with its traditions and special atmosphere“, he said. „I know the character of Onegin well, but Andriy Zholdak, the director, has made me take a different stance on a part that I’ve sung many times in different productions. I’m deeply satisfied with the result of the long rehearsals; I feel that the work we’ve done, although gruelling, has enriched me inside.“
Evgeny Akhmedov, who is to play the part of Lensky, is a vocal studies student at St. Petersburg State Conservatory. His tutor is the famous People’s Artist of Russia Olga Kondina.
In 2011, he was accepted into the Mikhailovsky Theatre company. Only 23, he has already made a name for himself singing Judas in Sergei Slonimsky’s production of The Master and Margarita. Lensky is his first major role in a full-length opera production.
On 26 October, the role of Olga will be performed by Mikhailovsky Theatre soloist Sofia Fainberg. The young singer made her debut two years ago in Káťa Kabanová — even back then, her rendition of Varvara received outstanding reviews — and she consistently performs to the highest professional standards. While rehearsing the new production of Onegin, Fainberg demonstrated that she not only fits perfectly into the role with her acting and singing talents, but that she is completely open to new approaches in direction. On 27 October, the part of Olga will be sung by Irina Shishkova (Mariinsky Academy of Young Singers).
Gremin will be sung by Andrey Gonyukov, soloist with the National Opera of Ukraine, on 26 October, and Vyacheslav Pochapsky, Bolshoi Theatre soloist and Honoured Artist of Russia, on 27 October.
The show’s creators are convinced that this new production of Eugene Onegin will showcase new talents from recognized masters and introduce the public to new faces.
In the performance, Tatiana is onstage almost continually, with all the action revolving around her. In the première on 26 October, Tatiana Ryaguzova will play Tatiana; the singer has many leading roles in her repertoire, including those in La Juive, Rusalka, La Bohème, and Iolanta, and she has already sung the part of Tatiana in a previous version of Onegin. However, she feels that the ‘new Tatiana’ is unlike anything she has sung before. „I won’t deny that we had to push ourselves to the absolute lim its physically, emotionally, and in our singing, in order to achieve the producers’ aims“, admitted Ryaguzova after the run-through, „but despite the tiredness, I can’t wait for the première.“ On 27 October, Tatiana will be played by Gelena Gaskarova, a soloist from the Mariinsky Academy of Young Singers.
The part of Onegin will be sung by Janis Apeinis, a Latvian singer who is considered one of the best baritones in Eastern Europe. He has played the leading role in Tchaikovsky’s opera in the productions of five different opera houses, but sees this performance before the St. Petersburg public as a great stroke of fortune. „I am unbelievably happy to have the chance to perform in St. Petersburg, with its traditions and special atmosphere“, he said. „I know the character of Onegin well, but Andriy Zholdak, the director, has made me take a different stance on a part that I’ve sung many times in different productions. I’m deeply satisfied with the result of the long rehearsals; I feel that the work we’ve done, although gruelling, has enriched me inside.“
Evgeny Akhmedov, who is to play the part of Lensky, is a vocal studies student at St. Petersburg State Conservatory. His tutor is the famous People’s Artist of Russia Olga Kondina.
In 2011, he was accepted into the Mikhailovsky Theatre company. Only 23, he has already made a name for himself singing Judas in Sergei Slonimsky’s production of The Master and Margarita. Lensky is his first major role in a full-length opera production.
On 26 October, the role of Olga will be performed by Mikhailovsky Theatre soloist Sofia Fainberg. The young singer made her debut two years ago in Káťa Kabanová — even back then, her rendition of Varvara received outstanding reviews — and she consistently performs to the highest professional standards. While rehearsing the new production of Onegin, Fainberg demonstrated that she not only fits perfectly into the role with her acting and singing talents, but that she is completely open to new approaches in direction. On 27 October, the part of Olga will be sung by Irina Shishkova (Mariinsky Academy of Young Singers).
Gremin will be sung by Andrey Gonyukov, soloist with the National Opera of Ukraine, on 26 October, and Vyacheslav Pochapsky, Bolshoi Theatre soloist and Honoured Artist of Russia, on 27 October.
The show’s creators are convinced that this new production of Eugene Onegin will showcase new talents from recognized masters and introduce the public to new faces.
