ROLE OF Lensky IN "Eugene Onegin"
by
Stephen Timothy John Bell
B.Mus., University of British Columbia, 2004
A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF MUSIC
in
THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES
(Opera)
THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
April, 2006
© Stephen Timothy John Bell, 2006
ABSTRACT
The thesis for the Master of Music degree in Opera consists of the performance of a
major role in one full opera production in the first or second year.
My major role in one full opera production was "Lensky" performed in "Eugene Onegh
on March 5 2005.
Tchaikovsky's sh
Eugene Onegin
The Chan Shun Concert Hall March 3,4, 5, and 6, 2005
EUGENE ONEGIN By
Pyotr lllyich Tchaikovsky
Opera in 3 acts Libretto by Tchaikovsky and Shilovsky
From a prose poem by Pushkin
With The UBC Opera Ensemble And
The UBC Symphony Orchestra
Premiere—Moscow, Maliy Theatre, students of the Moscow Conservatory, 1879
Professional Premiere—Moscow, Bolshoy Theatre, 1881
Conductor Norbert Baxa Director Nancy Hermiston
Music Director Richard Epp Set Design Bryan Pollock
Lighting Design Jeremy Baxter
There will be one twenty—minute intermission
Chan Shun Concert Hall March 3,4, 5,6, 2005
This production is made possible by generous assistance through the Chan Endowment Fund and the David Spencer
Endowment Encouragement Fund of the University of British Columbia
U B C
lie Chan
A C T O N E
S c e n e 1 M a d a m e Larina's g a r d e n In the g a r d e n , M a d a m e Larina and her devoted servant Filipievna are talking together while Larina's daughters Tatiana a n d O l g a c a n be heard practicing a duet. Peasants c o m e in from the fields bringing freshly cut hay a n d celebrating the completion of the harvest. T h e outgoing O l g a is taking part in the celebrations while the pale a n d shy Tatiana remains w r a p p e d up in her beloved novels. Lenski, Olga's suitor, and his worldly friend, E u g e n e O n e g i n , arrive. T h e four young people awkwardly mingle until Lenski and O l g a pair off as d o Tatiana a n d Onegin. Lenski pours out his love for Olga. While strolling through the g a r d e n , Onegin a s k s Tatiana if she is growing tired o t h e r boring existence. Visibly upset, Tatiana has difficulty answering. A s evening falls, the c o u p l e s go in for dinner.
S c e n e 2 Tatiana's b e d r o o m Tatiana a n d her nurse, Filipievna, have been talking. Tatiana is unable to fall asleep and a s k s Filipievna to tell her a story. Filipievna tells Tatiana about her life, love, and marriage but notices that Tatiana's mind is wandering a n d a s k s if she is ill. Tat iana replies that she is secretly in love a n d a s k s to be left alone. W h e n she is finally alone, Tatiana begins writing a letter to O n e g i n pouring out her feelings. S h e c l o se s by pleading for his understanding a n d w h e n the morning arrives, she gives the letter to Filipievna for delivery to O n e g i n .
S c e n e 3
A different part of the g a r d e n A group of w o m e n has gathered in M a d a m e Larina's g a r d e n singing about flirting with boys. Tatiana hurries in, followed by Onegin. Onegin tells Tatiana that love and marriage are not for him a n d , while he is flattered by her attentions, he loves her like a brother a n d no more. Tatiana is c r u s h e d a n d humiliated.
INTERMISSION
The local Arts Recital Scries I. II I •'• itll ii" • *ili»lii IHrWInt-
Tradition i 6treat Songs
and Arias
6- &f French
Composers
A n d r e w G r e e n w o o d , b a r i t o n e
M a t t h e w M a , p i a n o
Thurftda^ March 10, 8:00pm
$13 -$15 at the door
Dibflel Tk Complete Works for Choir
Requiem Opus 9 Quaie Motets Opus 10 Messe Curnjubilo Opus
'Timtless Giegerian
Chant Melodies
enhuced by an
of rich impressionist hartmritsl"
Darryl Nixon, organ Richard WlafjB, c@nductor Soloists: Sarah Vardy Andrew Greenwood
"jiipm Sunday. March 13th, m St Andrew's-Wesley (barch
UamrdadMm.ViKDiitr
Tkto»:SI.'-il5»ll»f»»»r.
Present this handbill upon purchase of your ticket to receive a second
ticket free!
ACT TWO
Scene 1 Madame Larina's house, months later During a ball for Tatiana's birthday, Monsieur Triquet, the dancing master, sings a song in her honor. Onegin dances with Tatiana, which gives rise to some ill-natured gossip from the neighbors. Onegin, bored with the whole evening, chooses to flirt with Olga and arouse Lenski's jealousy. They quarrel and Lenski challenges Onegin to a duel. Scene 2 The following morning At dawn, Lenski and his second, Zaretsky, await Onegin. Lenski reflects on the folly of his life and imagines Olga visiting his grave. Onegin arrives with his second. They sing of regret for their earlier rashness but, in the end, pride prevails. Neither Lenski nor Onegin will make the first move towards reconciliation. The pistols are loaded and the opponents measured up. Lenski is killed at the first shot.
ACTTHREE Scene 1 A hall of a palace in St. Petersburg, several years later A magnificent ball is in progress. Onegin is there after spending several years in seclusion to atone for the death of his friend, Lenski. Prince Gremin, the host of the party, arrives with his beautiful wife. The Prince talks with his cousin, Onegin, who questions him as to the identity of his wife. Gremin tells Onegin of the love and beauty that Tatiana has brought into his life since they were married two years earlier. Gremin introduces Onegin to Tatiana. Tatiana excuses herself after a few words to Onegin, who is utterly captivated by her.
Scene 2 Later that same evening Onegin has written an impassioned letter to Tatiana. Though many years have passed, she still loves him. She receives him , and recalls their former meeting and shows some indignation at his return. Is his interest in her now due to her marriage to a rich, prominent, and noble husband? Perhaps he only seeks notoriety. She remembers the happiness that could have been theirs but is now out of reach. Onegin declares his love again and Tatiana prays for courage. She admits that she loves him as much as before, but tells him the past can not be recaptured. She is married now and she will be forever devoted to her husband. Appealing to Onegin's sense of honour, she asks him to leave her at once. All his pleas are in vain—she resists his temptation and turns away in a final farewell. A distraught and despairing Onegin falls to his knees to contemplate his bitter fate.
CAST MARCH 3/5 MARCH 4/6
Tatiana Whitney Sloan Onegin *Krzysztof Biernacki Lenski Stephen Bell Olga Alison Temple Filipievna Joyce Ho Larina Megan Morrison Captain Kevin Louden Zaretsky Scott Brooks Triquet John Marino(3)/Brian Lee(5) Gremin Andrew Stewart Guillot Andrew Jameson Tenor Solo Kevin Lee
Dionne Sellinger *Andrew Greenwood *John Arsenault Rose Ellen Nichols Milo Lowry Erin Fisher David English Michael Mori Adrian Glaubert Andrew Stewart Andrew Jameson Tomas Bijok
David English (Gremin Understudy)
UBC OPERA ENSEMBLE CHORUS Linda Baird, Jessica Bowes, Tomas Bijok, Scott Brooks, DJ Calhoun,
Brent Calis, Esther Choi, Leah Field, Erin Fisher, Adrian Glaubert, Brooke Harris, Joyce Ho, Chloe Hurst, Teiya Kasahara, Michelle Keobke,
Amy LaFroy, Brian Lee, Kevin Lee, Elaine Lee, Margo Levae, Kevin Louden, Milo Lowry, John Marino, Katie May, Gina McLellan, Melanie McTaggart,
Mimi Roth - Miller, Michael Mori, Matthew C. Mori, Diana Oros-Wilder, Alina Raskin, Lucy Smith, Kathleen Susak, lain Taylor
UBC OPERA ENSEMBLE DANCERS Tomas Bijok, Scott Brooks, DJ Calhoun, David English, Adrian Glaubert,
Nancy Hasiuk, Chloe Hurst, Laurren lacobellis, Michelle Keobke, Kevin Lee, Elaine Lee, Kevin Louden, Gina McLellan, Melanie McTaggart, Michael Mori,
Matthew C. Mori, Rose-Ellen Nichols, Diana Oros-Wilder, Kathleen Susak, Alison Temple
* c o u r t e s y o f t h e C a n a d i a n A c t o r ' s E q u i t y A s s o c i a t i o n
Aleksandr Pushkin Pyotr lllyich Tchaikovsky
U B C S Y M P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A
Violin I Concertmaster: Regina Ho
Assistant:James Wei Natalie Jeon Drie Ignas Theresa Choi Bora Lee Katya Sokolavskaya Heather Wright Si-Fan Yiu Jason Ho
Violin II *Erin James Alana Chang Grace Tsang Ji Younge Park Aida Boiesan Sarah Chang Laura Weingarten Sherry Chuang Chandra Susillo
Violas *PeterIng Lana Elias Vanessa Hellinga Jay Yiu Eric Edington Hryb Josh Belevedere Tally Lemire
Cellos *Jianan Zhao Alexandra Sia Brian Chan Tina Hsu Mi Kung Kim Sabrina Tsou Caroline Szram
Double Bass *AdamJones Finn Vaughan Sandy Chen Dana Neilsen
Flutes *Susan Lee Elaine Sum Gloria Huh (piccolo)
Oboes *Marea Chernoff Elizabeth Brown
Clarinets *lan Munro Michelle Goddard
Bassoons *Michael Siu Rachel Fels-Elliot
Horns *Mindy Liang Jessica Piper Julie Wilhelm
Trumpets *Malcolm Aiken Nicole Tickner
Trombones *Sean Wright Cary McCaffery Michael Schafer
Timpani Christy Fast
Harp Andrew Chan
Assistant Conductor John van Deursen
Librarian Micajah Sturgess
^denotes principal
Krista McAdams
Eugene Onegin Libretto by Tchaikovsky and Shilovsky
From a prose poem by Aleksandr Pushkin "Life is not like a novel" is one of the catch phrases of Eugene Onegin, an opera completed in 1878 by composer Pyotr llych Tchaikovsky and adapted collaboratively with Konstantin Shilovsky from the novel in verse by the same name written by Russia's revered poet Alexander Pushkin. Contrary to the catch phrase, the Onegin libretto reflects significant details about the lives of its prominent authors.
Set in the Russian countryside and St. Petersburg during the 1820s, the libretto tells the story of a young and bored aristocrat, Eugene Onegin, who is introduced by his poet friend, Lenski, to the Larin family. As Act I opens, Onegin has moved into his recently deceased uncle's country estate and become neighbors of Madame Larina and her two young daughters Olga and Tatiana, who are polar opposites. Lenski courts the younger daughter Olga, a jubilant girl with few serious thoughts. Tatiana is the brooding, novel-reading brunette who succumbs to the "magic poison of desire" and against her own good judgment writes Onegin a letter to tell him how much she loves him. Onegin, who presents himself as a jaded elitist, condescendingly says that her candour is sweet, but that routine would destroy any love he could muster which, in fact, would only be brotherly.
While Tchaikovsky was writing Eugene Onegin, he received a passionate love letter from an unnoticed young woman who was begging to meet him. His letter, polite but a cool rebuff, further inflamed her and she threatened suicide if he wouldn't meet her. Tchaikovsky who was 37 years old had been considering marriage for some time, hoping to achieve the comforts of a regular home life and to overcome gossip. Although Tchaikovsky had explained the Platonic arrangement he desired, Antonina Milyukova did not want a brotherly kind of love. The practical marriage to Antonina lasted only a few days. The legal marriage ended when she died in a mental institution in 1917.
Act II depicts a bored Onegin entertaining himself by baiting his hot-blooded friend Lenski as Onegin steals Olga as his dance partner. Olga, a carefree spirit, punishes Lenski's jealously by insisting that Onegin's flirting is nothing and by allowing Onegin to escort her for the evening's grand cotillion promenade. The act ends with Onegin killing Lenski in a gentleman's duel that Onegin demeans by both showing up late and making his coachman his second. At 27, Pushkin died two days after being wounded in a duel that involved the honour of his beautiful wife Natalia. D'Anthes, the adopted son of the Dutch ambassador, ignored Pushkin's challenge to settle the matter by duel and later married Natalia's sister as a way to peacefully end the matter. However, D'Anthes continued to pursue Natalia saying his attention was now a family matter. To add insult to injury, had Pushkin survived the duel, he would have been put to death because that was the penalty in Russia for participating in a duel. Pushkin's demise verges on the fantastic and, like Tchaikovsky's marriage, contains sexual elements that were not discussed in public in the 19 t h
century. In Act III of Onegin, Tchaikovsky has Onegin fall in love with Tatiana
who has married his cousin Prince Gremin. Although Tatiana still loves the man who spurned her, she chooses to honor the commitment to her adoring older husband, knowing Onegin may be attracted to her only because she represents an enticing conquest. Because Tatiana is the character who changes and matures, many past critics of this opera argue with good logic that this opera is her story and not Onegin's.
Stage Director: Assistant: Conductor : Assis tant Conductor : Repet i teurs:
Rehearsal Pianists:
Choreographer : Russian Coach:
Nancy Hermiston Darrel l Crof t Norber t Baxa John van Deursen Richard Epp David Boothroyd Aleks Szram Donna Falconer Shauna Mart in Cather ine Lee Tat iana Mouravieva
Technical Staff Product ion Manager: Elia Kirby Technical Director: Keith Smith Assis tant Tech. Di rectors: John Conlon
Andrew Jameson
Set Design: Set Const ruct ion:
Painters:
Bryan Pollock
Harry Vanderschee
Larry Walske
Lorra ine West
Skai Fowler
Light ing Design: Jeremy Baxter Light ing Assistant: Kevin Louden Light ing Assistant /Operator : Jane Loong
Propert ies Supervisors: Lynn Bur ton Janet B ick ford
Propert ies Bui lders: Jenni fer Meng
Valerie Moffat
Wendy Subity
Wardrobe Supervisor: Parvin Mirhady Wardrobe Assistant: Gina McLel lan Makeup Supervisor: Nel Volr ich Makeup Assistant: Carmen Garc ia Hairdressing and Wigs: Elke Engl icht Surt i t les: John Arsenaul t
Megan Morr ison Stage Manager: Melissa Tsang Asst. Stage Managers: Melissa Eyes
Melania Radel icki Stage Crew: Pascale Gendreau
Olivia Mowat t
The Chan CENTRE FOR T H E PERFORMING ARTS
For the Chan Centre of the Performing Arts
Act ing Managing Di rector Sid Katz Director of Facil i t ies and Operat ion Cameron McGill Assistant Technical Di rector Owen Schel lenberger Director of Programming & Adminis t rat ion Joyce Hinton Programming Coord inator Wendy Atk inson Events Manager Lindsay Jameson Director of Market ing & Customer Service Marie Edwards Head Light ing Technic ian Andrew Riter Head Audio Technic ian Jay O'Keefe Systems Admin is t ra tor Ted Clark Front of House Coord inators Carl A rms t rong
Andrew Elliot Concessions Coord inator Nathan Lee T icket Off ice Manager Donna Caedo Financial Off icer Flora Lew Financial Clerk Laura Lee Samuels Recept ion Clerk Kim Claybo Product ion Clerk Sherri Fetter ly Tour Guide Rachel Lowry
SPECIAL THANKS
The David Spencer Endowment Encouragement
Fund
The Chan Family
Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation
The Vancouver Opera
The Vancouver Opera Guild
The UBC School of Music and staff
Theatre UBC and staff
Staff of the Chan Centre of the Performing Arts
Malabar's
Art's Club Theatre
Vancouver Playhouse
Bruce Kennedy at Studio 58
Dunbar Lumber
Cat's Meow Restaurant
Brad Dowd
Colin Cooper
Thank you to all the patrons, donors and volunteers who made our
first Masked Ball a success!
And Special Thanks
To The DAL RICHARDS ORCHESTRA
And Steve Lemire and UBC CATERING
For their spectacular music And
Fantastic food!
The UBC President's Office, The Chan Family, The Vice President's Office for External and Legal Affairs, UBC Ceremonies, The Dean of Arts Office,
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver Opera, Ben Heppner, Judith Forst, Burgoo's Restaurant, La Notte Italian Restaurant, Sears,
Country Furniture, Judi May, the Lowry Family, the Ho Family, the McTaggart Family, Harbour
Cruises, Village VQA Wines Dunbar, David Lemon, Rhonda Nichols, lain Taylor, Don McLellan, Angela Lee, Van Dusen Botanical Garden, Back to Back
Massage, Paul Crowder, Ward Hunting
Thank you!
Tchaikovsky's
Eugene Onegin
The Chan Shun Concert Hall March 3,4, 5, and 6, 2005
m U B C M U S I C The Chan
EUGENE ONEGIN By
Pyotr lllyich Tchaikovsky
Opera in 3 acts Libretto by Tchaikovsky and Shilovsky
From a prose poem by Pushkin
With The UBC Opera Ensemble And
The UBC Symphony Orchestra
Premiere—Moscow, Maliy Theatre, students of the Moscow Conservatory, 1879
Professional Premiere—Moscow, Bolshoy Theatre, 1881
Conductor Norbert Baxa Director Nancy Hermiston
Music Director Richard Epp Set Design Bryan Pollock
Lighting Design Jeremy Baxter
There will be one twenty—minute intermission
Chan Shun Concert Hall March 3, 4, 5, 6, 2005
This production is made possible by generous assistance through the Chan Endowment Fund and the David Spencer
Endowment Encouragement Fund of the University of British Columbia
l ie Chan
ACT ONE
Scene 1 Madame Larina's garden In the garden, Madame Lar ina and her devoted servant Fil ipievna are talk ing together whi le Larina's daughters Tat iana and Olga can be heard prac t ic ing a duet. Peasants come in f r o m the f ie lds br ing ing freshly cu t hay and ce lebrat ing the complet ion of the harvest. The outgoing Olga is tak ing par t in the celebrat ions whi le the pale and shy Tat iana remains wrapped up in her beloved novels. Lenski, Olga's sui tor, and his wor ld ly f r iend , Eugene Onegin, ar r ive. The four young people awkward ly mingle unti l Lenski and Olga pair off as do Tat iana and Onegin. Lenski pours out his love fo r Olga. While strol l ing th rough the garden, Onegin asks Tat iana if she is g rowing t i red of her bor ing existence. Visibly upset, Tat iana has di f f icul ty answer ing. As evening fal ls, the Couples go in fo r dinner.
Scene 2 Tatiana's bedroom Tat iana and her nurse, Fi l ipievna, have been ta lk ing. Tat iana is unable to fall asleep and asks Fil ipievna to tel l her a story. Fil ipievna tel ls Tat iana about her life, love, and marr iage but not ices that Tat iana's mind is wander ing and asks if she is ill. Tat iana repl ies that she is secret ly in love and asks to be left alone. When she is f inal ly alone, Tat iana begins wr i t ing a let ter to Onegin pour ing out her feel ings. She closes by pleading fo r his understanding and when the morn ing arr ives, she gives the let ter to Fil ipievna fo r del ivery to Onegin.
Scene 3 A di f ferent par t of the garden A group of women has gathered in Madame Larina's garden singing about f l i r t ing wi th boys. Tat iana hurr ies in, fo l lowed by Onegin. Onegin tells Tat iana tha t love and marr iage are not fo r him and, whi le he is f la t tered by her at tent ions, he loves her l ike a bro ther and no more. Tat iana is c rushed and humil iated.
INTERMISSION
ACT TWO
Scene 1 Madame Larina's house, months later During a ball fo r Tat iana's b i r thday, Monsieur Tr iquet , the dancing master , s ings a song in her honor. Onegin dances wi th Tat iana, wh ich gives rise to some i l l -natured gossip f r o m the neighbors. Onegin, bored wi th the whole evening, chooses to f l i r t w i th Olga and arouse Lenski 's jealousy. They quar re l and Lenski chal lenges Onegin to a duel .
Scene 2 The fo l lowing morn ing
A t dawn, Lenski and his second, Zaretsky, awai t Onegin. Lenski ref lects on the fol ly of his life and imagines Olga visi t ing his grave. Onegin arr ives wi th his second. They sing of regre t fo r thei r ear l ier rashness but, in the end, pr ide prevai ls. Neither Lenski nor Onegin wil l make the f i rs t move towards reconci l ia t ion. The pistols are loaded and the opponents measured up. Lenski is kil led at the f i rs t shot.
ACTTHREE Scene 1 A hall of a palace in St. Petersburg, several years later A magni f icent ball is in p rogress . Onegin is there af ter spending several years in seclusion to atone fo r the death of his f r iend, Lenski . Pr ince Gremin, the host of the parry, arr ives wi th his beauti ful wi fe. The Prince talks wi th his cousin, Onegin, who quest ions him as to the identi ty of his wi fe. Gremin tel ls Onegin of the love and beauty tha t Tat iana has b rought into his life s ince they were marr ied two years earl ier. Gremin in t roduces Onegin to Tat iana. Tat iana excuses hersel f af ter a few words to Onegin, who is ut ter ly capt ivated by her.
Scene 2 Later that same evening Onegin has wr i t ten an impassioned let ter to Tat iana. Though many years have passed, she stil l loves him. She receives him , and recal ls thei r f o rmer meet ing and shows some indignat ion a t his re turn . Is his interest in her now due to her marr iage to a r ich, prominent , and noble husband? Perhaps he only seeks notor iety. She remembers the happiness that could have been theirs but is now out of reach. Onegin declares his love again and Tat iana prays for courage. She admits that she loves him as much as before, but tel ls him the past can not be recap tu red . She is marr ied now and she wi l l be fo rever devoted to her husband. Appeal ing to Onegin 's sense of honour, she asks him to leave her at once. All his pleas are in v a i n — s h e resists his temptat ion and turns away in a f inal f a r e w e l l . A d is t raught and despair ing Onegin fal ls to his knees to contemplate his b i t ter fate.
MARCH 3/5 CAST
Tatiana Whitney Sloan Onegin *Krzysztof Biernacki Lenski Stephen Bell Olga Al ison Temple Fil ipievna Joyce Ho Lar ina Megan Morr ison Captain Kevin Louden Zaretsky Scot t Brooks Tr iquet John Marino(3) /Brian Lee(5) Gremin Andrew Stewar t Guil lot And rew Jameson Tenor Solo Kevin Lee
MARCH 4/6
Dionne Sel l inger *Andrew Greenwood *John Arsenaul t Rose Ellen Nichols Milo Lowry Erin Fisher David English Michael Mori Adr ian Glauber t Andrew Stewar t Andrew Jameson Tomas Bijok
David English (Gremin Understudy)
UBC OPERA ENSEMBLE CHORUS Linda Baird, Jessica Bowes, Tomas Bijok, Scott Brooks, DJ Calhoun,
Brent Calis, Esther Choi, Leah Field, Erin Fisher, Adrian Glaubert, Brooke Harris, Joyce Ho, Chloe Hurst, Teiya Kasahara, Michelle Keobke,
Amy LaFroy, Brian Lee, Kevin Lee, Elaine Lee, Margo Levae, Kevin Louden, Milo Lowry, John Marino, Katie May, Gina McLellan, Melanie McTaggart,
Mimi Roth - Miller, Michael Mori, Matthew C. Mori, Diana Oros-Wilder, Alina Raskin, Lucy Smith, Kathleen Susak, lain Taylor
UBC OPERA ENSEMBLE DANCERS Tomas Bijok, Scott Brooks, DJ Calhoun, David English, Adrian Glaubert,
Nancy Hasiuk, Chloe Hurst, Laurren lacobellis, Michelle Keobke, Kevin Lee, Elaine Lee, Kevin Louden, Gina McLellan, Melanie McTaggart, Michael Mori,
Matthew C. Mori, Rose-Ellen Nichols, Diana Oros-Wilder, Kathleen Susak, Alison Temple
*cour tesy o f the Canad ian A c t o r ' s Equi ty Assoc ia t ion
Aleksandr Pushkin Pyotr l l lyich Tchaikovsky
U B C S Y M P H O N Y O R C H E S T R A
Violin 1 Double Bass Trumpets Concer tmaster : * A d a m J o n e s "Malcolm Aiken Regina Ho Finn Vaughan Nicole T ickner
Assistant :James Wei Sandy Chen Natalie Jeon Dana Neilsen Trombones Drie Ignas *Sean Wr igh t Theresa Choi Flutes Cary McCaffery Bora Lee *Susan Lee Michael Schafer Katya Sokolavskaya Elaine Sum Heather Wr igh t Glor ia Huh (piccolo) Timpani Si-Fan Yiu Christy Fast Jason Ho Oboes
*Marea Chernoff ' Harp Elizabeth Brown Andrew Chan
Violin II *Er in James Clar inets Assis tant Conductor Alana Chang * lan Munro John van Deursen Grace Tsang Michelle Goddard J i Younge Park L ibrar ian Aida Boiesan Bassoons Micajah Sturgess Sarah Chang . *Michael Siu Laura Weingar ten Rachel Fels-Elliot Sherry Chuang Chandra Susil lo Horns
*Mindy Liang " d e n o t e s p r i n c i p a l
Violas Jess ica Piper *Peter Ing Jul ie Wilhelm Lana Elias Kr is ta McAdams Vanessa Hell inga Jay Yiu Eric Edington Hryb Josh Belevedere Tally Lemire
Cellos *J ianan Zhao Alexandra Sia Brian Chan Tina Hsu Mi Kung Kim Sabrina Tsou Carol ine Szram
Eugene Onegin Libretto by Tchaikovsky and Shilovsky
From a prose poem by Aleksandr Pushkin "Life is not like a novel" is one of the catch phrases of Eugene Onegin, an opera completed in 1878 by composer Pyotr llych Tchaikovsky and adapted collaboratively with Konstantin Shilovsky from the novel in verse by the same name written by Russia's revered poet Alexander Pushkin. Contrary to the catch phrase, the Onegin libretto reflects significant details about the lives of its prominent authors.
Set in the Russian countryside and St. Petersburg during the 1820s, the libretto tells the story of a young and bored aristocrat, Eugene Onegin, who is introduced by his poet friend, Lenski, to the Larin family. As Act I opens, Onegin has moved into his recently deceased uncle's country estate and become neighbors of Madame Larina and her two young daughters Olga and Tatiana, who are polar opposites. Lenski courts the younger daughter Olga, a jubilant girl with few serious thoughts. Tatiana is the brooding, novel-reading brunette who succumbs to the "magic poison of desire" and against her own good judgment writes Onegin a letter to tell him how much she loves him. Onegin, who presents himself as a jaded elitist, condescendingly says that her candour is sweet, but that routine would destroy any love he could muster which, in fact, would only be brotherly.
While Tchaikovsky was writing Eugene Onegin, he received a passionate love letter from an unnoticed young woman who was begging to meet him. His letter, polite but a cool rebuff, further inflamed her and she threatened suicide if he wouldn't meet her. Tchaikovsky who was 37 years old had been considering marriage for some time, hoping to achieve the comforts of a regular home life and to overcome gossip. Although Tchaikovsky had explained the Platonic arrangement he desired, Antonina Milyukova did not want a brotherly kind of love. The practical marriage to Antonina lasted only a few days. The legal marriage ended when she died in a mental institution in 1917.
Act II depicts a bored Onegin entertaining himself by baiting his hot-blooded friend Lenski as Onegin steals Olga as his dance partner. Olga, a carefree spirit, punishes Lenski's jealously by insisting that Onegin's flirting is nothing and by allowing Onegin to escort her for the evening's grand cotillion promenade. The act ends with Onegin killing Lenski in a gentleman's duel that Onegin demeans by both showing up late and making his coachman his second. At 27, Pushkin died two days after being wounded in a duel that involved the honour of his beautiful wife Natalia. D'Anthes, the adopted son of the Dutch ambassador, ignored Pushkin's challenge to settle the matter by duel and later married Natalia's sister as a way to peacefully end the matter. However, D'Anthes continued to pursue Natalia saying his attention was now a family matter. To add insult to injury, had Pushkin survived the duel, he would have been put to death because that was the penalty in Russia for participating in a duel. Pushkin's demise verges on the fantastic and, like Tchaikovsky's marriage, contains sexual elements that were not discussed in public in the 19 t h
century. In Act III of Onegin, Tchaikovsky has Onegin fall in love with Tatiana
who has married his cousin Prince Gremin. Although Tatiana still loves the man who spurned her, she chooses to honor the commitment to her adoring older husband, knowing Onegin may be attracted to her only because she represents an enticing conquest. Because Tatiana is the character who changes and matures, many past critics of this opera argue with good logic that this opera is her story and not Onegin's.
Stage Director : Assistant: Conductor : Assis tant Conductor : Repet i teurs:
Rehearsal Pianists:
Choreographer : Russian Coach:
Nancy Hermiston Darrel l Crof t Norber t Baxa John van Deursen Richard Epp David Booth royd Aleks Szram Donna Falconer Shauna Mart in Cather ine Lee Tat iana Mouravieva
Technical Staff Product ion Manager: Elia Kirby Technical Director : Keith Smith Assis tant Tech. Di rectors: John Conlon
Andrew Jameson
Set Design: Set Const ruct ion:
Painters:
Bryan Pollock
Harry Vanderschee
Larry Walske
Lorra ine West
Skai Fowler
Light ing Design: Jeremy Baxter Light ing Assistant: Kevin Louden Light ing Assistant /Operator : Jane Loong
Propert ies Supervisors: Lynn Bur ton Janet B ick ford
Propert ies Bui lders: Jenni fer Meng
Valerie Moffat
Wendy Subity
Wardrobe Supervisor: Wardrobe Assistant: Makeup Supervisor: Makeup Assistant: Hairdressing and Wigs: Surt i t les:
Stage Manager: Asst. Stage Managers:
Stage Crew:
Parvin Mirhady Gina McLel lan Nel Volr ich Carmen Garc ia Elke Engl icht John Arsenaul t Megan Morr ison Melissa Tsang Melissa Eyes Melania Radel icki Pascale Gendreau
Olivia Mowat t
CENTRE K M T H E PERFORMING ARTS fari £
y
F o r i77e C / ? a / 7 Centre of the Performing Arts
Acting Managing Director Sid Katz Director of Facilities and Operation Cameron McGill Assistant Technical Director Owen Schellenberger Director of Programming & Administration Joyce Hinton Programming Coordinator Wendy Atkinson Events Manager Lindsay Jameson Director of Marketing & Customer Service Marie Edwards Head Lighting Technician Andrew Riter Head Audio Technician Jay O'Keefe Systems Administrator Ted Clark Front of House Coordinators Carl Armstrong
Andrew Elliot Concessions Coordinator Nathan Lee Ticket Office Manager Donna Caedo Financial Officer Flora Lew Financial Clerk Laura Lee Samuels Reception Clerk Kim Claybo Production Clerk Sherri Fetterly Tour Guide Rachel Lowry
SPECIAL THANKS
The David Spencer Endowment Encouragement
Fund
The Chan Family
Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation
The Vancouver Opera
The Vancouver Opera Guild
The UBC School of Music and staff
Theatre UBC and staff
Staff of the Chan Centre of the Performing Arts
Malabar's
Art's Club Theatre
Vancouver Playhouse
Bruce Kennedy at Studio 58
Dunbar Lumber
Cat's Meow Restaurant Brad Dowd
Colin Cooper
Thank you to all the patrons, donors and volunteers who made our
first Masked Ball a success!
And Special Thanks
To The DAL RICHARDS ORCHESTRA
And Steve Lemire and UBC CATERING
For their spectacular music And
Fantastic food!
The UBC President's Office, The Chan Family, The Vice President's Office for External and Legal Affairs, UBC Ceremonies, The Dean of Arts Office,
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Vancouver Opera, Ben Heppner, Judith Forst, Burgoo's Restaurant, La Notte Italian Restaurant, Sears,
Country Furniture, Judi May, the Lowry Family, the Ho Family, the McTaggart Family, Harbour
Cruises, Village VQA Wines Dunbar, David Lemon, Rhonda Nichols, lain Taylor, Don McLellan, Angela Lee, Van Dusen Botanical Garden, Back to Back
Massage, Paul Crowder, Ward Hunting
\
Thank you!
Ihv 1'cniIn n Croup t
The local Arts Recital Scries >i n li.it I Ul l l luMIt \ i mm Ihirrtur
Th French
Tradition 6*rcat Songs
and Mas
&y French
Composers
A n d r e w G r e e n w o o d , b a r i t o n e
5 M a t t h e w M a , p i a n o
Thursjb'f Msrch 10, 8:00pm
St. Andrew's - V d e s l ^ Chuvch $13-$15 at the door
Duruflelj The Complete Works for Choir
liem Opus 9 Quatie Motels Opus 10
Mess€ Cumjubilo Opus n man
Chant
enhanced hi an
mitrlay ft rich
impressionist harmoalts!"
Darryl Nixon, organ Richard Wilams, conductor
Soloists: Sarah Vardy Andrew Greenwood
Pacific Singers
7:30pm Sunday, March 13th, 2005 St AndreVs-Weslev Church
Itarrani and \4m, Viacom tr
lict[|.:Mlv|5jllhnl»Nr.
Present this handbill upon purchase of your ticket to receive a second
ticket free!