Lensky's Aria
"Kuda, kuda, vi udalilis"
Where, where, where have you gone ...
Where, where have you gone,
golden days of my spring?
What does the coming day hold for me?
I cannot see it.
It is hidden in deep darkness!
No matter, the law of fate is just.
Shall I fall, pierced by an arrow, or will it pass by?
All is good, for vigil and sleep
There is a pre-determined time.
Blessed is a day of simple tasks
And blessed is the day of troubles.
A ray of daylight glistens in the morning
And a bright day will dawn
And I, perhaps, will descend
Into the mysterious shadow of the grave?
And the memory of a young poet
Will be submerged in the Lethe’s waters.
The world shall forget me, but you, you, Olga!
Tell me, will you, fair maiden,
Come to shed a tear at my premature grave
And think "He loved me, he entirely devoted to me
The sad dawn of his troubled life!"
Ah Olga, I did love you,
To you alone I devoted
The sad dawn of my troubled life.
Yes Olga, I did love you!
My beloved friend, my dear friend,
Come, come!
Beloved friend, do come,
For I am your true husband.
Come, come!
I am waiting for you, beloved friend.
Come, for I am your true husband.
Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
The Larin sister, Tatyana and Olga, live in the Russian countryside. Olga’s fiancé, Lensky comes to visit from St. Petersburg, with his friend, Onegin. Tatyana falls in love with Onegin and writes him a letter, confessing her feelings. He returns to give his reply, rejecting Tatyana as a prospective wife.
Their social circles still intersect and Onegin and the sisters are attending a ball where Onegin decides to dance and flirt with Olga. This provokes Lensky, who challenges Onegin to a duel, brooding on the possible fateful outcome. Although the friends regret the situation, they proceed with the duel and Lensky is killed.
Onegin returns to St Petersburg after living abroad for some time. He feels responsible for Lensky’s death and finds little purpose in life. At a ball, he meets a relative, Count Gremin, who tells him of the beautiful woman he has married and the joy this has brought him. Countess Gemina is Tatyana. Onegin realises he loves her and writes to her of his passion. When they meet, Tatyana reminds Onegin that he once rejected her and is clear that she will remain true to her husband. Onegin is left alone and despairing.