d lasting.

At the Dresden Opera House it was first given October 20th, 1908,
though the composer wrote it fully 29 years ago. It was the most
brilliant success of the season.

Tschaikowsky is the classic amongst the Russian composers; his concert
music is well known and greatly esteemed in Germany.

Of the eleven operas, which he wrote, Eugene Onegin is the best.

The libretto lacks dramatic force, although it is taken from Puschkin's
masterpiece, a poem, which in Russia is equalled to Goethe's Faust, but
the music is strikingly original and full of exquisite music and
harmony. The hearer's attention may be drawn especially to the fine
duet between Olga and Tatiana, and to the latter's love letter, a
supreme hymn of love in the first act.

In the second act there are some charming dances, a quaint
old-fashioned waltz, an original Mazurka and in the third act a
brilliant polonaise {525} and a delightful waltz, interwoven with the
passionate love duet between Onegin and Tatiana.

The text is adapted for the stage by Tschaikowsky's brother Modeste.

The scene is laid in Russia. The first and second acts take place in
the country-house of Madame Larina, the third act in the house of
Prince Gremin at St. Petersburg.

In the first scene Madame Larina is sitting in the garden with the
nurse Philipyewna, talking of old times and listening to the pretty
songs of her two daughters. Olga, a light-hearted merry girl, is
engaged to Lenski, a somewhat jealous youth. Tatiana, the younger
sister, is thoughtful and sensitive and possesses all the
sentimentality of sweet eighteen.

While they are talking the peasants of the village enter, bringing
presents of fruit and corn to their landlady. After having performed
their pretty dances, they are treated to wine and food by the nurse.--

When they have left Lenski, Olga's betrothed is announced. He
introduces his friend Eugene Onegin to the family, and Tatiana promptly
falls in love with the interesting stranger, who seems also attracted
by the charming girl. Lenski has only eyes for his bride Olga, who
soon grows somewhat tired of her passionate and exacting lover.--

In the evening, when Tatiana has retired to her bedroom, she writes a
long letter to Onegin, telling him, that she has seen his face in her
dreams, and believes him to be her good genius and her {526} guardian
angel. She declares in the most touching terms, that she loves him,
but being ashamed of hers