Tchaikovsky’s ‘Eugene Onegin’ to screen Feb. 1-2

OPERA CLUB

The Opera Club invites all LWers to its screening of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s passionate opera “Eugene Onegin” on Feb. 1 and 7 at 1:30 p.m. in Clubhouse 3, Room 2.

Based on a Alexander Pushkin’s classic love story, the opera explores misunderstood feelings, spurned love, mortal loss and lifelong consequences. The depth of emotions presented in this performance has existed in Russian society for a long time.

In Acts 1 and 2, Eugene Onegin is introduced by his friend Lensky to his betrothed’s sister Tatyana, a young, bookish girl who immediately falls deeply in love with the dashing Onegin. Tatyana is so smitten that she pens a note revealing her strong feelings for him, which Onegin rudely rejects. He further offends her by immediately flirting with Olga, Tatyana’s sister and his friend Lensky’s betrothed, prompting Lensky to challenge Onegin to a duel by firearms. On a cold day in the countryside, steps are marked off for the duel, the opponents take aim, and Onegin’s first shot kills his friend. In Act 3, after a long journey abroad to forget his past, Onegin returns to his hometown to reconnect with society. He attends a ball, where he encounters the celebrated beauty Princess Gremina, who is also his former admirer, Tatyana.

The emotional dialogue combined with music that could only be Tchaikovsky’s heightens the ending to this very human story.

The production is in Russian with English subtitles. All attendees are required to wear masks. No dues or fees will be collected. For more information, contact club President Beverly Emus at (562) 296-5586 or Beverly90740@gmail.com. —Sylvan Von Burg