Eugene Onegin (Russian: Евгений Онегин, romanized: Yevgény Onégin, IPA: [jɪvˈɡʲenʲɪj ɐˈnʲeɡʲɪn] ⓘ), Op.

The libretto, organised by the composer himself, very closely follows certain passages in Alexander Pushkin's 1825–1832 novel in verse, retaining much of his poetry.

[1] Eugene Onegin is a well-known example of lyric opera, to which Tchaikovsky added music of a dramatic nature.

The story concerns a selfish hero who lives to regret his blasé rejection of a young woman's love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend.

Tchaikovsky felt that the novel wasn't particularly strong in plot – a dandy rejects a young country girl, she successfully grows into a worldly woman, he tries to seduce her but it is too late.

1879 at the Maly Theatre, Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein, with set designs by Karl Valts (Waltz).

Outside Russia the initial reception was lukewarm, and it was slow to reach European cities, being seen as a Russian curiosity.

The first performance outside Russia took place on 6 December 1888 in Prague, conducted by Tchaikovsky himself, although the rehearsals had been the responsibility of Adolf Čech.

He attributed its success to Mahler, whom he described as "not some average sort, but simply a genius burning with a desire to conduct".

They can hear Madame Larina's two daughters, Tatyana and her younger sister Olga, singing a love song.

Tatyana has been reading a romantic novel and is absorbed by the story; her carefree sister, on the other hand, wants to join in the celebrations.

Filipyevna announces that visitors have arrived: Olga's fiancé Lensky, a young poet, and his friend Eugene Onegin, visiting the area from St Petersburg.

Onegin is initially surprised that Lensky has chosen the extrovert Olga rather than her more subtle elder sister as his fiancée.

Onegin tells Tatyana of his boredom in the country and describes the death of his uncle and his subsequent inheritance of a nearby estate.

Restless and unable to sleep, she asks her nurse Filipyevna to tell her about her youth and early marriage.

The elderly French tutor Monsieur Triquet sings some couplets in honour of Tatyana, after which the quarrel between Lensky and Onegin becomes more intense.

Scene 2: On the banks of a wooded stream, early morning Lensky is waiting for Onegin with his second Zaretsky.

Scene 1: The house of a rich nobleman in St Petersburg Five years have passed, during which Onegin has travelled extensively around Europe.

Scene 2: A room in Prince Gremin's house Tatyana has received Onegin's letter, which has stirred up the passion she felt for him as a young girl and disturbed her.

Tatyana admits she still loves Onegin, but asserts that their union can never be realized, as she is now married, and determined to remain faithful to her husband despite her true feelings.

Source: [1] Sung in German: Sung in English: Prince Gremin's aria «Любви все возрасты покорны» – "To love both young and old surrender" (Act III, Scene I) is partially hummed by the characters of Vershinin and Masha in Anton Chekhov's play Three Sisters.