Tchaikovsky’s opera ‘Eugene Onegin’ performed at Jackson’s Lane Arts Centre has been a highlight of our London visit. As our university contemporary and chair of HGO wrote:

‘Great that you enjoyed it ! I think Eleanor’s production was very fine, ideally scaled to the venue. And of course it’s so good having a cast close to the ages of the characters it portrays’.

Tchaikovsky’s opera was first performed in 1879 when the composer was 38. It’s based on Pushkin’s verse novel where playboy Eugene Onegin’s relationship with schoolgirl Tatyana, deeply infatuated with him, causes the death of his best friend Lensky in a duel. After years of wanderings Onegin’s indifference turns to love when he recognises a now empowered Tatyana who rejects him for another…her husband and leaves him to regret and despair.

The final performance received a well-deserved standing ovation.