Two performances of Eugene Onegin take place in Helsinki this week.
The first one, is a final college work by our compatriot, the Helsinki University student Varvara Merras-Hyaurnen. Interestingly, she combines her theater activities with regent duties at the Uspenski Cathedral, Helsinki. The director Anselmi Hirvonen and the conductor Sasha Mäkilä both studied in Saint-Petersburg. According to Anselmi Hirvonen, it was a low-budget project with minimum props and a very simple set. He’s also added that many musicians worked for little or for no money because they truly love Russian opera.
They all think that the premier on March 15 promises to call a success.
The second performance diverges substantially in scale. Tchaikovsky’s opera will be on stage of the biggest opera house in the country - Finnish National Opera. Finnish stars Olli Tuovinen and Tuomas Katajala, German singer Josef Wagner, guest sopranos Olesya Golovneva and Elena Stikhina take turns playing Tatiana. Russian conductor will be leading the orchestra.
The Eugene Onegin opera premier will happen on March 17.
Russkiy Mir
