EUGENE ONEGIN Tchaikovsky – Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Did you hear the voice of the night? Did you hear the voice of the night? It sings of love and sorrow. I, too, used to sing… Do you remember? You were young then. At that time your husband was courting you, but you were dreaming of another man. A dashing guards officer! That was long ago! But then, without asking me… … they made you marry your husband. Oh, how I cried! I almost left him. But you became used to marriage, became content… Heaven gave us habituation as a substitute for happine

ss. The corset, the album, the Princess Polina, … … the notebook full of sentimental poetry, I have forgotten all that. And you stopped calling the maid Alkula “Céline”… … and finally replaced the dressing gown and the bonnet! Heaven gave us habituation as a substitute for happiness. My husband loved and trusted me. The master loved you truly. Heaven gave us habituation as a substitute for happiness. My feet ache from walking! … from walking! My hands ache from working! … from working! My hea

rt is full of sorrow! I cannot forget my sweetheart! My feet ache from walking! … from walking! My hands ache from working! … from working! Blessings to your ladyship! The harvest has been brought in! Very good! Now come and amuse yourselves, sing a jolly song! Let’s please her ladyship. Come, get ready! Across a little bridge, across a little path… …came a young fellow, his cheeks red as berries. On his back he carried an oak stick, under one arm he carried a bagpipe. Under one arm he carri

ed a bagpipe, under the other his pipe. The sun went down. Are you not asleep? Come out, or send… … Sasha or Masha or even Parasha. And Parasha came, and talked to her sweetheart. „Be content, my friend. I came as I was:” „… in a shirt that is far too thin and a skirt that is far too short.” Vayinu, Vayinu, thin shirt, short skirt… How I love to hear these songs, dreaming myself away, far away… Ah, Tanya, you are always dreaming. But I am not like you! I am happy when I hear singing! „Across

a little bridge…“ I am not made for melancholy, I do not want to dream and sigh in solitude. Why sigh while I can enjoy my days of youth. Carefree like a child! I love life, and I want to stay as a I am: Light-hearted, carefree and happy! I am not made for melancholy, I do not want to dream and sigh Why sigh while I can enjoy my days of youth. Carefree like a child! My darling, you seem agitated today! You’d love to dance again, wouldn’t you? Tanya! What is it? Are you alright? It is not

hing, I am fine! Mama, look at Tatyana! You are pale, my darling! I always am, do not worry! This book I am reading is so interesting! And this is the reason for your paleness? The fate of these lovers affects me deeply. Oh, how they are suffering! I used to get emotional, too, when I read such books. But as the years went by, I learned that there are no heroes in real life. How can you stay so quiet? Suppose Lensky arrived? Hush! Someone’s coming! It is him! Indeed! And he is not alone!

Who could it be? Young Mr Lensky has arrived! Mr Onegin is with him! I’d rather be away! Where do you want to go? What will they think of you? My goodness! Why don’t you say anything? Quick, go and ask them to come in! Mesdames! I have taken the liberty of bringing a friend with me. May I introduce Onegin, my neighbour. Very pleased to meet you! – We are delighted! These are my daughters. – Very pleased to meet you! Shall we go in? Or would you prefer to stay outside? Please, no need for fo

rmalities! We are neighbours! How delightful it is outside. So shady and secluded. Lovely! Go and look after our guests. Say, which one is Tatyana? – The sad-looking one… (Tatyana) I know: This is the one! (Tatjana) I will be seeing his face everywhere from now! (Tatjana) Everything will talk of him all the time. (Tatjana) My soul is burning with love! (Onegin) Your Olga has a round face like the moon. (Onegin) I like the other one better. (Lensky) The two of us are different. (Lensky) Li

ke poetry and prose, water and fire. How happy I am to see you again! We saw each other only yesterday… Apart for a whole day! It was like eternity! Eternity… A dreadful word! Yes, but not for my love! Don’t you find it terribly boring here? I suppose there is not much entertainment here! I read a lot… Reading can be food for the soul and the heart. But you cannot just read all the time! Sometimes I dream… – What do you dream about? I have been dreaming since my childhood days. I used

to be the same… Olga, I love you like only the heart of a poet can love! Incessantly the same desire, the same sorrow! As a child I was captivated by you when I did not yet know the pain of love! I witnessed your childish games, hidden in the shadows of the forest. I love you like only the soul of a poet can love! You alone are my desire, you are my joy and my sorrow! I love you! And nothing, neither the cool distance, nor the hour of farewell… … can calm my heart. It is heated by the fi

re of my love! We grew up together in isolation. Since childhood we were destined for each other. I love you! There you are! But where is Tanya? Probably with our guest. I go and get her! Tell them to come. Our guests must be hungry. Please, do come! – We are coming! My uncle was a man of honour. When he finally took to his bed,… … he enjoyed everyone’s respect because of his honourable ending. But is was very boring to sit day and night with a sick man! There goes my little shy dove. Wil

l she take an interest in this man? Time to sleep, Tanya! I will wake you early for mass. Now got to bed quickly! I cannot sleep. It is so hot and humid in here. What is the matter with you? I am bored. Tell me something from the old days. But what, Tanya? I used to know many fairytales… … of evil spirits and maidens. But I have forgotten them all. I am getting old. Oh dear! Tell me, were you in love as a young girl? What are you talking about, Tanya! In those days, one did not speak of lov

e… … or my mother-in-law would have chased me away! How did you get married, then? By the grace of God, I suppose! My Vanya was even younger than me,… … and I was only thirteen! For two weeks the matchmaker came to my parents’ house… … and finally my father agreed. I cried bitterly with fear,… … when they undid my braids and led me to the altar with singing. Then I came into a new family… but you are not even listening! Oh Njanya, I am suffering, I am so unhappy! My dead child, you are ill!

May God protect you! I will sprinkle you with holy water. You are feverish! I am not ill! I am… in love! Leave me, I beg you. I am in love! Go, leave me alone… Bring me pen and paper. I will soon go to bed. Forgive me! – Good night, Tanya! Even if it were my downfall, I will fight for my happiness in life! I am pursued by dreams, I see only him everywhere! No, that does not work. I will start again. Oh, what is the matter with me? I don’t know how to begin. I am writing to you, doesn’t that

say it all? It is within your power to punish me with contempt. But if you have only one grain of pity, you will not reject me. I wanted to remain silent, so that you would have never known my sentiments. I vowed to keep this burning passion locked away in my soul… But alas, I have no strength to control my soul! Come what may, I am prepared! He shall know everything! Why did you come to visit us? I wish I’d never met you, never felt this pain! Time would have healed my heart. I would have

met another man,… … would have become a faithful wife and a virtuous mother. Another man! No, I would not have given my heart to any other man in the world! It is the will of Heaven: I am yours! My whole life has been a single pledge for this encounter! I know: God sent you to me! You are my protector until the end! You appeared to me in my dream. I loved you before I knew you. Your gaze filled me with longing, your voice resonated in my soul! For a long time… No, it was no dream! I rec

ognised you when you came. I glowed and said to myself: It is him! You spoke to me in the silence. I heard you when I helped the poor or sought solace in prayer. And just now: Was it not you who gently leaned over my bed,… … whispering words of hope, full of joy and love? Who are you? My guardian angel? Or my deceiver? Dispel my doubts! Perhaps all this is just a dream… … self-deception of an inexperienced heart… … and I am destined for another fate? So be it! I place my happiness in your

hands. I beg you for your protection! I am alone! No one understands me! Speak a word of hope or destroy my delusion! I have come to the end. I am afraid and ashamed. His honour is my protection, I will entrust myself to it. The night is over, the new days dawns. The shepherd is playing. Everything is calm. And I… It is time, my child! Get up! Are you already awake? I was so worried yesterday evening. But thank God you are well! Not a trace of yesterday’s sorrow! Oh Njanya, be so kind… – W

hatever you want, my child. Don’t believe… don’t think… Oh don’t say no! My dear child, God is my witness! Send you grandson secretly to “O”, your neighbour… He shall not breathe a word and not mention my name! To whom, my dear? I am not as bright anymore. We have many neighbours here. Which one do you mean? Ah, you don’t get it! – Dear heart, I am old. My mind is getting weaker. I used to be so clever! Why are you talking about your mind? It is about the letter! All right, my darling. Don

’t be angry! To Onegin, to Onegin! – I got it! Why are you so pale? – It is nothing. Go and send your grandson! You beautiful girls, my friends! Let’s play and have fun! Sing a merry song and make the boy come over to us! When he comes, flee and throw cherries and redcurrants at him! Don’t eavesdrop on our girlish games! You beautiful girls, my friends! Let’s play and have fun! Sing a merry song and make the boy come over to us! When he comes, flee and throw cherries and redcurrants at hi

m! Don’t eavesdrop on our girlish games! Here he is! Onegin! Oh God! I wonder what he thinks? What will he say? Why on earth did I write that letter to him? I know he will laugh at me. Oh God! I am so unhappy! He is coming! Yes…. it is him! You wrote to me, do not deny it. I read the confession of your innocent love. Your honesty aroused in me long-silenced emotions. I want to respond to you with the same honesty. Listen to my explanation, and then judge me. Oh God! What humiliation, what ag

ony! If I wanted to live a domestic life,… … if fate hat chosen me to be a husband,… … then I would choose only you as my wife. But I am not made for marriage. I am not worthy of you! Marriage would be agony for us both. Daily routine would kill love. Say for yourself what a thorny bed of roses it would be for us, … … which we might have to endure for a long time! Dreams and years do not return! I love you like a brother, perhaps even more! Listen to me without rancour: How often do girls

get confused by dreams! Learn to control yourself! Not everyone will understand you like me. Inexperience often leads to disaster! What a lovely surprise! Wonderful music! We haven’t been entertained like this for a long time! A great party! Bravo! Such a lovely surprise! We don’t often have such glamorous balls on our estates. Usually only hunting gives us some entertainment. They fly all day long through forests, swamps and bushes. Tired, they lie down to rest. And the ladies enjoy th

emselves alone. Trifon Petrovich, how kind you are! The pleasure is all mine. Let’s dance! – I love to! Let’s go! Look over there: They are dancing together! It was bound to happen. Poor Tatyana! He will marry her… … and then tyrannise her. They say he is a gambler! He is uneducated, a solitary man, who does not kiss a lady’s hand. A libertine, who only drinks red wine! So that’s how they think of me! How they gossip! Serves me right! Why did I come here in the first place? I won’t forgive

Lensky for that! I am going to court Olga, just to annoy him. May I ask you to dance with me? You promised this dance to me! You must have been mistaken. I can’t believe it! Olga! God, what’s happening here? A great party! What a surprise! Fantastic catering! A successful celebration! What a surprise! A successful celebration! Bravo! Such a lovely surprise! What a great party! Wonderful music! A succesful celebration! What have I done to deserve this scorn? Oh Olga, you are cruel to me! What

have I done? What have I done wrong? Every écossaise, every waltz you only dance with Onegin! You are angry about trifles! – About trifles! How can I remain indifferent while you laugh and flirt with him? He bent down to you and squeezed your hand! I saw everything! You are jealous for no reason! We were just chatting. He is very nice. Nice! Olga, you don’t love me! – How weird you are being! You don’t love me anymore! Will you dance the cotillon with me? No, with me! You promised! And I kee

p my word! Olga! – No way! Here comes Triquet! A Frenchman… Monsieur Triquet! Sing us a song, please! I have the song with me. But where is Mademoiselle? She has to stand in front of me, because the song is for her! Here she is! – Voilà, the queen for the day! Mesdames, I will begin! And please, no interruptions! What a beautiful day it was when in this rural scenery… … „La belle Tatyana“ appeared to us! We all came here, girls, ladies and gentlemen,… … to see her blossom! You are a rose beauti

ful Tatyana! Bravo, Monsieur Triquet! Your song is very pretty and beautifully sung! Good luck to you, may you always stay our good fairy… … free from illness and ennui! May your luck last forever, and may you never forget your servant,… … this wish to you your faithful friends! You are a rose, beautiful Tatyana ! Bravo, Monsieur Triquet! Your song is very pretty and beautifully sung! Take your seats! The Cotillon is about to begin! You are not dancing, Lensky? What’s wrong with you? With me? N

othing. I admire how great a friend you are! I didn’t expect that answer! Why are you sulking? I am not sulking! I admire how you turn all the girls’ heads! Tatyana is not enough for you! Now you also want to seduce Olga. First you turn her head and then you scorn her. How noble you are! – Have you gone mad? Great! First you insult me, the you call me mad! What’s going on? Onegin! You are no longer my friend! I no longer wish to be aquainted with you! I despise you! What an unexpected surpr

ise! This is no fun anymore! Listen, Lensky, you are wrong! Everyone is already looking at us! I didn’t turn anyone’s head, and I don’t intend to! Then why were you whispering with her? What did you say to her? This is ridiculous! We are not alone! I don’t care! You have insulted me. I demand satisfaction. What on earth is the matter? I only asked Mr Onegin to explain his behaviour. He refused. And now I ask him to accept my challenge. Oh God, and in our house! Have mercy! In your house…. Thi

s is where I spent my childhood years. This is where I felt love for the first time. (Lensky) But life is not a novel. (Onegin) I am dissatisfied with myself. (Lensky) Honour, friendship … empty words! (Onegin) I was too careless with him. (Tatyana) My heart is tormented, as if seized by an icy hand! (Lensky) Now I know that an angel can turn into a demon! Shall this quarrel end in duel? I am at your service! You deserve a lesson! We will see who gets a lesson here! I may be crazy, but

you are a dishonourable seducer! Shut up or I’ll kill you! What a scandal! We will not allow a duel between these two! Calm down, I beg you! Oh Olga, farewell! Well, does your opponent not show up? He will be here soon. Strange that he hasn’t arrived yet. It’s almost seven o’clock. Where, where have you gone, my golden days of youth? What will the new day bring to me? The future is cloaked with darkness. But fate has been decided! If the bullett hits me or misses me… it does not matter. S

leep and wake have their destined hour! Blessed be the day of torment, blessed be the coming darkness! Dawn is approaching, the bright day is coming! But I may descend into the mysterious shadows of the grave! The memory of the young poet is slowly fading. The world will forget me… But you, Olga! Say, will you come, young and beautiful? Will you weep at my grave and think „He loved me!”? „To me alone he dedicated the dawn of his stormy life!" Oh Olga, I loved you, you were everything to me! Co

me, my love! I am waiting for you! I am your bridegroom! Where, where have you gone, my golden days of youth? There they are! Who is with your friend? I don’t know him! I apologise for the delay! – Where is your second? With duels I am a traditionalist and stickler! I will not allow a man to be finished off just like that,… …only according to the strict rules of art and tradition. We are very obliged to you for that! My second: Monsieur Guillot. He may be an unknown man, but he is an hone

st chap. Well, shall we get started? – Let’s get started! So now we are enemies! Why are we divided by hatred? Was it so long ago that we shared everything? And now we plan to kill each other! Shouldn’t we rather laugh and continue to be friends? No! Walk towards each other now. Dead? – Dead. I am also bored here. The glamour and the social life can’t dispel my melancholy. I have killed my friend, and was wandering around aimlessly. Tormented by idleness, without a family, I feel empty! Re

stlessness drove me about, and I was always longing for something new. I left everything I possessed. But his bloody shadow follows me everywhere. I started to travel aimlessly. Eventually, that also became tiresome. So I returned, directly from the ship to this ball. The Princess Gremina! Look! Which one is she? – That one over there! How lovely she is! Isn’t that Tatyana? Here from the depths of the steppe? How modest, how confident! Like the Tsarina herself! Tell me, who is standing ther

e with my husband? I don’t recognise him! An eccentric, an enthusiast. He travelled abroad a lot. And now he is back. It’s Onegin. Do you know him? He was my neighbour back in the country. Oh God, help me to hide the turmoil within my soul! Tell me, Prince, who is that lady over there? It’s obvious that you have been away for long. Let me introduce you! Who is she then? – My wife! How long have you been married? – For almost two years! – To whom? Tatyana Larina. Do you know each other?

I was her neighbour. Every age is subject to love, everyone is delighted by the joys of love alike. The blooming youth as well as the grey-haired man, hardened by war. Onegin, I don’t want to hide it: I love Tatyana madly! My life was dull and boring. She appeared … like a ray of sunshine after the storm, giving back life, youth and happiness to me. In the midst of evil, soulless people, of ignorant judges, pious coquettes,… … in the midst of flattering hypocrites, polite and friendly

dishonesty,… … in the midst of terrible vanity, this evil emptines: She shines like a star through the dark night. She always seemed to me like a bright angel. Every age is subject to love, everyone is delighted by the joys of love alike. The blooming youth as well as the grey-haired man, hardened by war. Onegin, I don’t want to hide it: I love Tatyana madly! My life was dull and boring. She appeared … like a ray of sunshine after the storm, giving back life, youth and happiness to me. Com

e, let me introduce you! My dear, let me introduce to you my old friend and relative, Onegin. Pleased to meet you. I think we met before. In the country… a long time ago. Did you come from there now? – No, I was abroad. Have you been back for long? – I came back only today! My friend, I am tired! Is this really the same Tatyana whom I once patronised? The same girl that I rejected back then? What’s happening to me? I feel like in a dream! What stirs in the depths of this cold soul? Anger, v

anity … or love? No, no doubt about it! I am in love, in love like a boy! And even if it should be my ending: I want to savour the magic potion of desire, this unfulfilling dream! Everywhere I see her before me, I desire her! Oh, how miserable I am! Onegin crosses my path again. His fiery gaze disturbs my soul and arouses sleeping passions. As if I were that little girl again, as if nothing had separated me from him! Enough, get up, I want to have an open word with you! Do you remember the

hour when I humbly listened to your lesson? Have mercy! I have been punished for my mistake! I was younger then, and I loved you. But what was your answer? Nothing but coldness! My love was nothing special to you! Even today I freeze, when I think of your cold look! But I bear you no grudge: You did right to me. Back then, in the country, you did not like me. Why do you follow me now? Why do you notice me now? Because I am now a lady of the world, because I rich and famous? Because my husba

nd is a hero, and we are favoured by the court? Because now my disgrace would be seen by everyone,… … while you enjoy the reputation of a seducer? How is it possible that your cold eye sees only calculation in me? Your accusation torments me! If you knew how love hurts! How it is to have to control the blood by reason! This desire to embrace your knees, to speak out everything at your feet! I weep! – Do weep! These tears are dearer to me than all the riches of the world! Happiness was so

close once. I have made a decision! I am married. You have to leave me, I beg you! Leave you? No! To see you every instant, to follow your smile, your movement,… To listen to you always, to perish in agony… That is happiness, my only dream, my bliss! There is pride and honour in your heart! I cannot leave you! You must leave me! – Mercy! Why hide it, why pretend! I love you! What do I hear? What did you say? What joy! Now you are the Tatyana of the past! No! The past does not return! I now

belong to someone else. I will always remain faithful to him! Don’t make me go away, you love me! I don’t leave you, you are mine! I was sent to you by God, I am your protector until death! You cannot send me away, you have to leave this house! You have no other choice! (Tatyana) I remain firm, fate gave me to another man, and to him I remain faithful! I am leaving! – I beg you, don’t go! Leave me now! – I love you! Farewell, forever! – You are mine! It’s over! O Shame! Everything is over f

or me!