Eugene Onegin

Act I, Scene 1: The garden of the Larin country estate

Eugene Onegin's uncle has died suddenly, willing his nephew a large country estate. Onegin's recent move to country life only underscores his boredom with cosmopolitan pleasures and general resentment of humanity. In spite of his disgruntlement, Onegin befriends the young poet Lenski, who introduces Onegin to Larina, a country-estate owner with two daughters, Olga and Tatiana. Larina, sitting outside with the family nurse, recalls her youth which she spent listening to her Moscow cousin regale her with tales of romantic novels by Richardson, nostalgically reflecting on male characters such as the virtuous Charles Grandison and the villainous Lovelace. So, when Larina observes Tatiana absorbed in a romantic novel of her own, she warns her daughter that real life is seldom like the stories they read. Lenski and Onegin arrive. Onegin is surprised that the serious and intense Lenski is Olga's fiancé, given her cheerfully outgoing yet superficial personality. Tatiana is immediately attracted to Onegin. Tatiana's character, the opposite of her sister, responds to Onegin as a fulfillment of her dreams, inspired by the romantic novels she has been reading.

Scene 2: Tatiana's bedroom

Tatiana is distracted and confides in her nurse that she is in love. Later, alone, she writes a letter to Onegin. In this famous “letter scene,” Tatiana realizes that she is fatally attracted to Onegin, and overcomes her doubts that he might reject her. She pours out her feelings, in effect asking if Onegin could ever be married to her. Tatiana requests her nurse send the letter to Onegin.

Scene 3: Later, elsewhere on the Larin estate

Onegin has arrived to respond to Tatiana's letter and give her his answer. He is greatly moved by her feelings, yet despite his awakenings to a new, less cynical sensibility, he explains somewhat gently that he could not be the best type of husband to her, and so should not marry. He continues, almost lecturing Tatiana now, telling her that love does not come easily to him. Although Tatiana is overwhelmed and cannot respond it is clear her heart has been crushed at Onegin's seeming willfulness to continue his solitary life.

Act II, Scene 1: The ballroom of the Larin house on Tatiana's name-day

Onegin has been urged to come to the name-day celebration; however he is intensely irritated with the guests and their penchant for country gossip about him and Tatiana. He contemplates revenge on Lenski for persuading him to come to the event. He begins flirting with Olga, making Lenski extremely jealous and outraged. Olga welcomes Onegin's attention, apparently indifferent to her fiancé Lenski, who judges that she is attracted to Onegin. Tatiana's foppish French tutor Monsieur Triquet sings some verses in honour of her, after which the quarrel between Lenski and Onegin boils over and the company can no longer ignore it. As the quarrel escalates, Lenski renounces his friendship with Onegin, and finally challenges Onegin to a duel. Spurred on by Zaretski, a local landlord, Lenski decides that reconciliation is now impossible with his former friend. Although Onegin initially refuses the duel, thinking Lenski mad, he is finally socially obligated to accept it, against his better judgment. This scene comprises a remarkable social commentary in opera history against the foolhardiness of the duelling tradition.

Scene 2: Early next morning near a river in the woods

While Lenski waits for Onegin, he sings of Olga and how much he loves her. He is filled with uncertainty and dread about what is to come. Onegin arrives, and both men are reluctant to go ahead with the duel but feel they have come too far to stop it. Lenski is shot dead with one bullet through the chest.

Act III, Scene 1: St. Petersburg, three years later at a ball given by Prince Gremin

After travelling extensively all around Europe, Onegin feels emptiness in life's pleasures and is remorseful over Lenski's death. Prince Gremin enters with his wife, Tatiana, who is now transformed by her new aristocratic position into a woman of great refinement and beauty. Gremin sings of his happiness with Tatiana, and re-introduces Onegin to her. Onegin is shocked to find Princess Gremina is really the Tatiana he knew from the country years ago. He is impressed and overcome by her sophistication and worldliness.

Scene 2: A reception room at Gremin's house

Now, Onegin realizes he is in love with Tatiana, and sends her a letter. Onegin enters and begs for her love and pity. Tatiana wonders why Onegin's attraction should be so strong now, but not when he first met her three years ago. But, Onegin defends his attraction as genuine. Tatiana weeps, thinking about how close they had been at one time, and that they could have been happy together. Even though she rejects Onegin's advances, stating that she is a married woman now, she eventually reveals her true feelings and tells Onegin that she loves him still. However, now she is obligated to her duty as a wife, even to a man she does not really love. Onegin is left alone, his heart crushed, in despair.