Full Synopsis

At the Larin country estate, the widowed Madame Larina lives quietly with her two daughters, the vivacious Olga and the dreamy and reserved Tatyana. Lensky, a poet and Olga’s suitor, comes to visit and brings his new neighbor Onegin to meet the family. Tatyana is instantly struck by Onegin, believing him to be the one she has been waiting for.

Tatyana cannot sleep and asks her old nurse Filpyevna to tell her about her own youth and marriage. After dismissing Filpyevna, Tatyana pours out her overwhelming feelings in a letter for Onegin. As dawn breaks, she gives the letter to Filpyevna to have delivered.

The women of the estate are picking fruit and singing. They move along and Tatyana enters, remorseful about her letter. Onegin enters. He tells her that while her candor has touched him, he is not meant for marriage—a union between them would only bring mutual unhappiness and misery. His love for her is like a brother, and he warns her to control her feelings in the future, as not all men might be so understanding.

A ball is underway at the Larin estate to celebrate Tatyana’s name day. Neighbours gossip about Tatyana and Onegin; angered by this, and resenting Lensky for insisting that he attend, Onegin monopolizes Olga’s attention, which angers Lensky. Monsieur Triquet, the French master at a neighbour’s house, sings some verses that he has composed in honour of Tatyana. Lensky accuses Onegin of flirting with Olga and of being a disloyal friend. The argument escalates and Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel.

It is barely dawn and Lensky and Zaretsky, his second, await Onegin at the site of the duel. Lensky sings of his lost innocence, his love for Olga, and his impending death. Onegin arrives with Monsieur Guillot, his second. As the men prepare to fight, they sing regretfully of their lost friendship. However the duel proceeds and Lensky falls, dead. Onegin is devastated.

It is several years later and Onegin has been trying to escape his unhappiness with travel. Now he has returned to St. Petersburg and is attending a ball. Prince Gremin enters with Tatyana on his arm. Onegin asks the prince, a relation, who she is. The prince tells him that she is his wife—in old age he has found love. Prince Gremin presents Tatyana to Onegin. Onegin is stunned to recognize the same girl he scorned in the past is now a beautiful and cultured woman. Tatyana manages to hide her intense emotion at this reunion and complains of tiredness; she and her husband leave the ball.

Onegin has written to Tatyana declaring his love. He arrives at her home and begs forgiveness from her. She reminds him of his treatment of her in the past and how happy they might have been. She begs him to leave; he refuses, passionately declaring his love for her. Tatyana admits to Onegin that she still loves him, but duty bids her to remain with her husband. She bids him farewell and leaves. Onegin is left alone, in despair.