Tchaikovsky´s most loved opera Eugene Onegin is based on Alexander Pushkin´s verse novel of the same title. The opera is extremely romantic, beautiful and moving and has from it´s first premiere in Russia been the nation´s favorite. Onegin is also the most performed Russian opera outside Russia and is regularely performed in leading opera houses around the world.

The dashing, unconventional Onegin visits the estate of Mrs. Larina and her daughters, Tatyana and Olga. From first glance, Tatyana believes that he is the hero of her dreams, but he rejects her without hesitation. Onegin is bored in the countryside and flirts with her sister, Olga. He outrages Lensky, Olga’s fiancé and Onegin’s only friend and Lensky challenges him to a duel where Onegin kills his only friend. To try to escape his guilt Onegin travels the world but returns to Russia and discovers that Tatyana is married to Prince Gremin and lives in the high society of St. Petersburg. He is devastated and begs her to return his love to her. Although she still loves him deeply, Tatyana stays true to her husband. 

„Happiness was within our reach, so close! So close!“ – Eugene Onegin and Tatyana, Scene two.

The opera is performed in Russian with English and Icelandic text translation and this is the first time an opera in Russian is performed in Iceland.