Opera Scotland

Eugene Onegin 2007English Touring Opera

Read more about the opera Eugene Onegin

James Conway's staging was straightforward and elegant, making clever use of a large mirror angled across the stage to reflect the dancers and make those scenes seem grander than the small chorus allowed. The period was updated to later in the nineteenth century, mildly controversial, but giving the work a welcome Chekovian feel. The restricted Perth stage did perhaps still make those same social scenes appear slightly cramped, but the dancers coped well.

The company brought in some excellent young singers, The lyric soprano Amanda Echalaz was making her third tour with ETO, definitely a talent to watch. She would soon sing leading parts at Covent Garden and the Met. Roland Wood, a sympathetic Onegin, was already appearing with some of the larger British companies. Michael Bracegirdle made an excellent, impulsive and plangently sung Lensky.

These relative newcomers were paired with some highly experienced artists, including Clare Shearer (once a Scottish Opera Olga) now singing Larina. Geoffrey Moses was a tall and dignified Gremin. Neither of them had appeared in Scotland for several years. Michael Rosewell expertly concealed any idea that a reduced orchestration had been employed.