atto

Scene I
The garden of the Larins’ country estate
Madame Larina converses with the nurse Filippyevna while her daughters, Tatiana and Olga, sing a song. Listening to them, Madame Larina recalls her youthful loves and the marriage to which she reluctantly had to adapt. A group of peasants arrives, celebrating the harvest with songs and dances. The two sisters react differently: Tatiana withdraws into herself, immersed in reading, while the outgoing Olga gives voice to her carefree nature. Madame Larina dismisses the peasants and tries to rouse the melancholy Tatiana: real life is very different from her novels. The nurse announces the visit of Olga’s fiancé, Lensky, who has just arrived with a friend, Eugene Onegin. Onegin is introduced to Madame Larina and her daughters. The young man is surprised that Lensky has preferred the beautiful but superficial Olga to her far more interesting elder sister. Tatiana, in turn, feels immediately drawn to Onegin. Onegin walks away conversing with Tatiana, and Lensky passionately declares his love to Olga. Madame Larina invites everyone to come inside for dinner. Onegin returns with Tatiana, explaining that he has inherited from an uncle the estate adjoining that of the Larins. The girl’s demeanor is, as always, composed and reserved, but the nurse’s attentive eye does not miss that Onegin has made a deep impression on her.

Scene II
Tatiana’s room
Tatiana cannot sleep: to the nurse, who tries to distract her by speaking of her own youth, she confesses that she is in love. Left alone, she spends the night writing a letter in which she reveals her feelings to Onegin. When the nurse enters the room to wake her, Tatiana persuades her to send her nephew to deliver the letter to Onegin.

Scene III
In the Larins’ garden.
A group of peasant girls gathers berries while singing. Tatiana anxiously awaits Onegin. He arrives and, with great tact, explains that he is not a man easily given to passion; if he were to think of marriage, he would certainly find in her an ideal wife, but he does not consider himself suited to married life: therefore he can offer her nothing more than brotherly affection. Finally, he advises her not to express her feelings so openly in the future: not everyone might understand her as he has, and her inexperience could lead her into trouble. Humiliated, Tatiana is unable to reply.
 

atto

Scene I
A ballroom in the Larins’ house
A ball is being held at the Larins’ home for Tatiana’s name day. Onegin, annoyed by the guests’ gossip and irritated with Lensky, who has persuaded him to attend, decides to take revenge by courting Olga. Lensky grows jealous and reproaches his fiancée. Olga, believing she has done nothing wrong, invites him not to make himself ridiculous and, to punish him, agrees once again to dance with Onegin. Thus, after Monsieur Triquet, a French teacher employed by neighbors, has sung a song in honor of the hostess, Lensky confronts Onegin: their argument escalates until Lensky, beside himself with exasperation, challenges him to a duel. Onegin, though aware that he has provoked the situation for a trivial whim, does not back down. The guests are shocked: Olga tries to reason with Lensky, and everyone wishes to prevent the duel. But Lensky, bidding farewell to Olga, leaves the room, immediately followed by Onegin.

Scene II
On the wooded bank of a river, at dawn
Lensky, waiting for Onegin with his “second,” Zaretsky, sensing his impending death, reflects on his life and his love for Olga. Onegin arrives, bringing with him as his “second” his servant Guillot. Like Lensky, he considers their sudden enmity senseless and is reluctant to proceed with the duel. But neither has the strength to withdraw: they face each other, and Onegin fires first, killing Lensky.
 

atto

Scene I
The residence of a wealthy aristocrat in Saint Petersburg
During a ball, Onegin reflects sadly on the emptiness of his existence: after Lensky’s death, he spent years traveling through Europe in an attempt to escape his remorse. When Prince Gremin enters accompanied by his wife, Onegin can scarcely recognize Tatiana in this splendid and dignified lady, greeted with deference by the guests. At the sight of Onegin, Tatiana is overcome with emotion. When Gremin presents her to him, she manages to conceal her agitation, but soon, under a pretext, asks her husband to accompany her elsewhere. Onegin realizes that he now feels a powerful love for the woman he once rejected.

Scene II
A room in the Gremins’ palace
Tatiana has received a letter from Onegin and is deeply shaken by it. When Onegin reaches her and throws himself at her feet, Tatiana reminds him that she was rejected years before and asks whether his present interest is not due to her social position. Onegin begs her to believe in his sincerity. Moved to tears, Tatiana recalls how close they once were to happiness. She confesses that she still loves him; nevertheless, she asks him not to persist: their love cannot be fulfilled because she is now a married woman, and she is determined to remain faithful to her vows despite her feelings. And, although Onegin implores her, she leaves him, motionless and in despair.