Review of ROH Eugene Onegin DVD
by David Nice in BBC Music Magazine, Christmas edition 2013

Mr Nice’s review compares two Onegin dvds, and starts:

‘These two DVDs of polarised productions encapsulate the heaven and hell of reviewing. Heaven is the chance to confirm that what I first felt about Kasper Holten’s deeply human Royal Opera Eugene Onegin, with its layered and passionate focus on a messed-up love between confused young man and determined girl. ‘

And he continues with his thoughts on the ROH dvd:

‘Every key point which crashes here’ (in the other production) ‘deeply moved me in Holten’s production. Holten’s principals break the heart: Krassimira Stoyanova’s aching, ringing tatyana embraces her youthful alter ego at the core of the Letter Sceen; baritone Simon Keenlyside’s “old” Onegin wills tenor Pavol Breslik’s handsome Lensky not to die. Mezzo Elena Maximova’s Olga and bass Peter Rose’s Gremin are nuanced characters, not the usual ciphers; Robin Ticciati mirrors the production’s palpitations in flexible conducting.

The little introductory documentaries are excellent, and though you may not want Holten’s commentary above the music, all he says makes sense. Up there with more outlandish concepts from Salzburg and Moscow, this is warmer than both.’

Performance: 5 stars
Picture & sound: 5 stars
Extras: 4 stars

3.8 11:00h: And I looked at the DG site on which you only find a preorder possibitity for amazon.COM, for nothing else – BUT it also says INTERNATIONAL release – so we have to wait!

Update 17:00: It will be released 9.9. according to Amamzon.co.uk

Diana.

It is only to preorder at amamzon.COM at the moment ….so we have to wait.

Diana.