Eugene Onegin was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto, organised by the composer and Konstantin Shilovsky, very closely follows certain passages in Alexander Pushkin's novel in verse, retaining much of his poetry.

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.

The opera was first performed in Moscow in 1879.

Cast:

Eugene Onegin – Thomas Allen

Tatiana – Mirella Freni

Olga – Anne Sofie von Otter

Lenski – Neil Shicoff

1988 DG recording

James Levine conductor