Tchaikovsky - Eugen Onegin / T. Allen, Freni, von Otter, Shicoff, Burchuladze; Levine

I must differ to the previous opinion. Russian of the main singers is bearable enough, especially comparing to the Solti interpretation that sounds really strange. I mean pretty strange conducting, strange choose for the singers, and dreadful, unprofessionally sounding Russian. I can point out just two strong points of that interpretation, which are Giaurov as Gremin and thorough booklet. Otherwise Levine's CD is fine. Probably, Freni is the best Tatiana recorded ever, Shikoff is fabulous (just compare with Burrows!), Levine conducts agreeably, and the record is beautifully scaled. Anyway, I'd prefer entirely Russian interpretation. I am sorry about that.

This opera is certainly not Boring, as one reviewer stated!
Eugene Onegin contains (in my mind) the most breathtaking flow of absolutely glorious melody in all of Opera. Perhaps Tschaikovsky only matched this in his ballet, The Nutcracker.
The performance here is quite fine. Especially notable is the exciting orchestral playing under the baton of James Levine, wonderfully Slavic and dramatic! Freni, as usual, is the most intelligent of lyrico-spinto sopranos, lightening her voice successfully as she does for all her "young" roles such as Manon Lescaut and Madama Butterfly. Hers may not be the most authentic sounding Russian accent, but it is so nice to have a beautiful Italian voice in such a role. Kudos to her for singing in so many different languages, very rare for an Italian soprano (like Tebaldi). Her voice has an appropriately more mature sound for the thrilling and heart breaking final scene, though I do slightly prefer the role sung by the excellent Kubiak on the Solti disc, with a better Russian accent.
Thomas Allen is a very fine Onegin, aptly dispassionate in the first two acts, rising in operatic passion and drama in the final scene with Tatyana. One oddity is that he omits the not-so-high final note of his act 1 arioso. E strano!
Neil Shicoff is wonderful in the heroic moments of Lensky's music, notably in the final outcry at the end of the act two party scene. He holds that high note forever! In the more intimate moments, the poetic and introverted Lenski is not as well displayed by Shicoff's voice. He cannot match the gorgeously sung performance of Stuart Burrows on the Solti set, even if Burrows is not as exciting in Lenski's outbursts in the party scene.
The rest of the cast is very well sung with Senechal beautifully caught, as he was many years earlier for Solti.
An excellent recording, but I still prefer the Solti set a bit more.... though it was my first love, and it's said that one's first love is always the most special. :)

This is very good recording, but:
1. Freni, Shicoff and Allan - all have TERRIBLE accent.... This... "Akh Tan-ya" is ridiculous... This is torture for russian ear to listen such langage. For russian listener almost all words are not descernible.
2. This opera is very boring... This opera contains only two interesing pieces - airs of Tatiana and Lensky.
3. If you want any exotic - buy "Duke bluebeard castle"...not this opera.
P.S. Otherwise this is very good perfomance.

Levine conducts a wonderful performance of Tschaikowsky's [this is the spelling on the cover of the CD album] greatest stage work. Freni is moving, believable and in beautiful voice. But the real kudos fall to the three mail leads. Burchuladze sings with all the feelings of an older man who cherishes the love of his younger wife; his aria sung as superbly as he does it says more than some complete operas. Thomas Allen sings with the ego of a foolish young man wise in the ways of the world but ignorant of what it's all about. His bitter regret in Act III sends chills up the spine. His rich tone just adds to the foolishness of his actions. Not since a Met matinee performance of this opera many years ago wilth Gedda as Lenksy has Kenky's" lament been so movingly sung, conveying the sad results of foolish pride and cultural madness. Never has his cries of "Kuda, kuda, kuda" made more imprint than Shicoff does it. To my western ears, this is a nonpareil Eugen Onegin. For a while it was hard to find. It deserves to be included in the DG "Originals" legendary recordings from the DG catalogue. The recording is too young for this I guess but it should be there anyway. A recording to cherish.

Based on Pushkin's poem Eugen Onegin inspired Tchaikovsky to write some of his best music and certainly his best opera,his own personal life became affected by his passion for this work leading him into a disastrous marriage and further depression. In Levine's glorious version the Dresden Staatskapelle play with wild Slavonic abandon,passionate and exciting,more so than in any other ,while it's true there are too few Russian singers on this recording which to my ears gives some cause for concern,the quality of singing is excellent,Thomas Allen's dark,virile baritone captures magnificently the cadishness of Onegin while Mirella Freni late in her career sings yearningly with beautiful golden tone,credibly girlish and passionate,Shicoff conveys admirably the nervous dreamy quality of Lenski and its good to hear the firm dark voice of the Georgian bass Paata Burchuladze in the part of Prince Gremin,all the other singers give great performances on this superlative CD.Very recommendable!!