Opera
Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich
Simple lyricism, keynote of this opera, explains the success of Eugene Onegin, which is emotionally straightforward, and concerned with real, simple people, searching for family happiness, love, and social adjustment. This harmonised with an age wearying of grand historical drama, of ideological conflicts and unbelievable passions....
Tchaikovsky identified with The Queen of Spades’ anti-hero, Hermann, and also with Liza, the loving and suffering victim of Hermann’s obsession. He wrote to his brother ‘Either I am terribly mistaken, Modya, or the opera is a masterpiece’ ...