"Letter Scene" from Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" (Audio + Vocal Score)

pf: Georg Solti cond/ Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Teresa Kubiak (Tatyana)
Year of composition: 1877-78, revised 1880, 1885, 1891
Eugene Onegin (Russian: Евгений Онегин, Yevgény Onégin), Op. 24, is an opera ("lyrical scenes") in 3 acts (7 scenes), composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto, organised by the composer himself, very closely follows certain passages in Alexander Pushkin's novel in verse, retaining much of his poetry.
Eugene Onegin is a well-known example of lyric opera, to which Tchaikovsky added music of a dramatic nature. The story concerns a selfish hero who lives to regret his blasé rejection of a young woman's love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend.
This scene, where Tatyana expresses her love for Eugene Onegin by writing a letter to him, comes in the first act of the opera. It contains some sublime music, as well as an ingenious usage of musical "onomatopoeia" from 2:33, where the descending notes and ringing harp represent the motion of the quill as Tatyana writes her letter and dips the quill in ink.
LIBRETTO: www.murashev.com/opera/eugene_... (begin from Tatyana's "Let me perish, but first")

[@boaz1353]

how can someone write something so beautiful i am in awe

[@UprisingGrand]

I can’t get over how beautiful, Adante con Moto section is.

[@thelouisfanclub]

Let me perish, but first let me summon, in dazzling hope, bliss as yet unknown. Life's sweetness is known to me! I drink the magic potion of desire! I am beset by visions! Everywhere, everywhere I look, I see my fatal tempter! Wherever I look, I see him! (She goes to the writing table, sits down, writes, then pauses.) No, that's all wrong! I'll begin again! (she tears up the unfinished letter) Ah, what's the matter with me! I'm all on fire! I don't know how to begin! (She writes, then pauses and reads it over.) 'I write to you, - and then? What more is there to say? Now, I know, it is within your power to punish me with disdain! But if you nourish one grain of pity for my unhappy lot, you will not abandon me. At first I wished to remain silent; then, believe me, you would never have known my shame, never!' (She puts the letter aside.) O yes, I swore to lock within my breast this avowal of a mad and ardent passion. Alas, I have not the strength to subdue my heart! Come what may, I am prepared! I will confess all! Courage! He shall know all! (She writes.) 'Why, oh why did you visit us? Buried in this remote countryside, I should never have known you, nor should I have known this torment. The turbulence of a youthful heart, calmed by time, who knows? - most likely I would have found another, have proved a faithful wife and virtuous mother...' (She becomes lost in thought, then rises suddenly.) Another! No, not to any other in the world would I have given my heart! It is decreed on high, It is the will of heaven: I am yours! My whole life has been a pledge of this inevitable encounter; I know this: God sent you to me, you are my keeper till the grave! You appeared before me in my dreams; as yet unseen, you were already dear, your wondrous gaze filled me with longing, your voice resounded in my heart long ago ... no, it was no dream! As soon as you arrived, I recognized you, I almost swooned, began to blaze with passion, and to myself I said: 'Tis he! 'Tis he! I know it! I have heard you ... Have you not spoken to me in the silence when I visited the poor or sought in prayer some solace for the anguish of my soul? And just this very moment, was it not you, dear vision, that flamed in the limpid darkness, stooped gently at my bedside and with joy and love whispered words of hope? (She returns to the table and sits down again to write.) 'Who are you'? My guardian angel or a wily tempter? Put my doubts at rest. Maybe this is all an empty dream, the self?deception of an inexperienced soul, and something quite different is to be ...' (She rises again and paces pensively to and fro.) But so be it! My fate henceforth I entrust to you; in tears before you, your protection I implore, I implore. Imagine: I am all alone here! No one understands me! I can think no more, and must perish in silence! I wait for you, I wait for you! Speak the word to revive my heart's fondest hopes or shatter this oppressive dream with, alas, the scorn, alas, the scorn I have deserved! (She goes swiftly to the table, hurriedly finishes the letter and signs and seals it.) Finished! It's too frightening to read over, I swoon from shame and fear, but his honour is my guarantee and in that I put my trust!

[@neilwalsh3977]

Such a wonderful moment

[@Dylonely42]

Not suprising from Tchaikovsky’s genius, but still very beautiful.

[@celteuskara]

Пускай погибну я, но прежде я в ослепительной надежде блаженство темное зову, я негу жизни узнаю! Я пью волшебный яд желаний! меня преследуют мечты! Везде, везде передо мной Мой искуситель роковой! Везде, везде, он предо мною! (Быстро пишет, но тотчас же рвет написанное) Нет, все не то! Начну сначала! Ах, что со мной! я вся горю! Не знаю, как начать... (Задумывается, потом снова начинает писать.) Я к вам пишу, - чего же боле? Что я могу еще сказать? Теперь я знаю, в вашей воле Меня презреньем наказать! Но вы, к моей несчастной доле Хоть каплю жалости храня, Вы не оставите меня. Сначала я молчать хотела; Поверьте, моего стыда Вы не узнали б никогда, Никогда!.. (Задумывается.) О да, клялась я сохранить в душе Признанье в страсти пылкой и безумной! Увы! не в силах я владеть своей душой! Пусть будет то, что быть должно со мной! Ему признаюсь я! Смелей! Он все узнает! (Продолжает писать.) Зачем, зачем вы посетили нас? В глуши забытого селенья Я б никогда не знала вас, Не знала б горького мученья. Души неопытной волненья Смирив, со временем, (как знать?) По сердцу я нашла бы друга, Была бы верная супруга И добродетельная мать... Другой! Нет, никому на свете Не отдала бы сердца я! То в Вышнем суждено совете, То воля неба: я твоя! Вся жизнь моя была залогом Свиданья верного с тобой; Я знаю: ты мне послан Богом До гроба ты хранитель мой. Ты в сновиденьях мне являлся, Незримый, ты уж был мне мил, Твой чудный взгляд меня томил, В душе твой голос раздавался. Давно ... нет, это был не сон! Ты чуть вошел, я вмиг узнала... Вся обомлела, запылала, И в мыслях молвила: вот он! Вот он! Не правда ль! Я тебя слыхала... Ты говорил со мной в тиши, Когда я бедным помогала, Или молитвой услаждала Тоску волнуемой души? И в это самое мгновенье Не ты ли, милое виденье, В прозрачной темноте мелькнул, Приникнув тихо к изголовью? Не ты ль с отрадой и любовью Слова надежды мне шепнул? Кто ты, мой ангел ли хранитель Или коварный искуситель? Мои сомненья разреши. Быть может, это все пустое, Обман неопытной души, И суждено совсем иное?.. Но так и быть! Судьбу мою Отныне я тебе вручаю, Перед тобою слезы лью, Твоей защиты умоляю, Умоляю! Вообрази: я здесь одна! Никто меня не понимает! Рассудок мой изнемогает, И молча гибнуть я должна! Я жду тебя, Я жду тебя! Единим словом Надежды сердца оживи, Иль сон тяжелый перерви. Увы, заслуженным укором! Кончаю, страшно перечесть Стыдом и страхом замираю, Но мне порукой ваша честь. И смело ей себя вверяю!

[@Dr.DivaMa]

What an outstanding voice!

[@sofiacassanelli7200]

Un canto meraviglioso per il l'espressività l'ardore nel proclamare il suo amore incontenibile, bellissimo

[@edgardlopes2557]

Marvelous! Thank you so much for posting!

[@crazyorganist1609]

Beautiful rendition

[@andrewlow1335]

"Courage! I must confess all!" Tatyana sings,as she writes the letter to Eugene Onegin.It is such a powerful line and gives you courage and raises your spirits.It was a "lightbulb moment" for Your Voice,the magazine of the charity Rethink Mental Illness.It helps me send "vibrations" and use the techniques of Sahaja Yoga meditation.

[@luisortega4991]

What a magnificent musical moment

[@viberouvet]

Wonderful !!! 💛💛💛

[@nellpolgert-martwijczuk923]

Amazing music and vocal 🌹

[@jimshepard7099]

Magnificent

[@murraywoldman473]

divine music!

[@xavierdumont]

Oh hell yes

[@paulinaluc]

Dziękuję :-)

[@cozname397]

One of the great arias! tchaik managed to drop the cloying for this one.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

And it all goes so horribly wrong later...

[@thenewclassic3136]

Isn't this how it all starts? A naive young girl writes a love letter.

[@declamatory]

The New Classic - Instagram

[@yfzhou8074]

OPERA

[@user-pt3zj8vi7c]

I love 11:30!!

[@raqueliaramlogan9939]

9:04 you’re welcome

[@anEyePhil]

Это оригинальный текст из стихотворения Пушкина?

[@anEyePhil]

Is this the original text from Pushkin's poem?

[@erinb.5626]

I read that Tchaikovsky hoped to be as close as possible - he was fascinated by the whole novel. But I believe there are little changes in favor of the musical flow...

[@user-jr7tr6im3s]

I woke up to this todAy I know not where it came from heaven I think 5:40

[@user-jr7tr6im3s]

I woke up to this todAy I have no idea where it came from heaven I thinks 8:31

[@musictop7630]

11:10

[@contravoice]

OMG can she even sing in Russian correctly??????

[@rominn2184]

Really painful to listen to in parts, very out-of-tune french horn.

[@radoslavnenchev8412]

Listen carefully idiot