Eugene Onegin (1879), Tchaikovsky’s most popular opera, makes a welcome return to the Canadian Opera Company after an absence of 13 years in an unusual but intriguing production from Opéra national du Rhin. Canadian baritone Brett Polegato and Northern Irish soprano Giselle Allen are riveting as the opera’s unhappy lovers.

Based on Alexander Pushkin’s innovative verse novel of the same title (1832), the opera follows the haughty, self-centred Onegin (Polegato), who unintentionally ruins the lives of all those around him. The production directed by Enrico De Feo begins at the end of the story and has the now-devastated Onegin looking back as in a dream over the past events. It is fascinating to see the clear contrast Polegato makes between the Onegin of the present and his conceited former self. His beautiful, rich voice is a constant pleasure. Allen, for her part, is wonderful at showing Tatyana’s growth from a shy, naïve country girl to the mature wife of the elderly Prince Gremin (Alexander Kisselev). The heart-rending final encounter between Onegin and Tatyana speaks to anyone who has had that bitter thought, “If only ....”