The Broken Cup, or How to Become a Husband and Survive

«Lyric scenes» in 7 scenes

Libretto by Tchaikovsky and Konstantin Shilovsky, based on Pushkin’s novel in verse

The opera was written in 1878. This version was first performed in Perm in 2010. Running time: 3 hours 10 minutes including 2 intervals

Tchaikovsky did not consider Eugene Onegin to be an opera; he described it as ‘lyric scenes’, endeavouring to avoid both comparisons of his interpretation with Pushkin’s great novel in verse and excessive operatic pomposity. For a theatre that bears Tchaikovsky’s name, a production of Eugene Onegin is a particularly important event, which is why this beautiful production always features Perm’s leading soloists and guest stars. 

The opera is staged in the style of Pushkin’s drawings. All the action takes place in the library among huge white bookshelves. Some 250 costumes were made especially for this production. They can be divided roughly into two collections: black and white. It is no exaggeration to say that kilometres of lace, velvet, silk, and taffeta were used in creating them.