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The Montreal cultural scene is in full bloom and at it's height is Opera de Montreal's season opening with Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky. Low key, when fall arrives, and opera season starts, it's like I come back to life. D'you feel me? I've got some great performances (and some new projects!) lined up this season, but kicking things off with Onegin was just ideal.
If you remember (koodos), I saw Tchaikovsky's opera not even a year ago at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. I had prepared for that performance a cheat-sheet - check it out! - so I'll be short on the opera description and dive right into the wonderful performance I saw last Saturday. It's all very bad timing
Tatyana (Nicole Car) and Eugene Onegin (Etienne Dupuis), Opera de Montreal, 2019. Photo: Yves Renaud.
There's really only opera that can quite succeed in poorly timed stories that lead to some upright drama and heartbreak. #letsbehonest Eugene Onegin is essentially Pride and Prejudice without the happy ending; here's why.
After Tatyana (Nicole Car) meets Onegin (Etienne Dupuis), she writes to him declaring her love. When he receives her letter, he lectures her on being too upfront with her feelings. He then goes on to seduce her sister Olga (Carolyn Sproule), who's engaged to his best friend Lensky (Owen McCausland). Lensky is insulted (duh!) and challenges Onegin to a duel. Too proud to admit his fault, Onegin kills Lensky and instantly regrets it. Plot twist! A few years later, Onegin meets Tatyana again except now she's moved up in society and married Prince Gremin (Denis Sedov). Now he realizes that he made a mistake years ago, and admits his love for her. She tells him she loves him too but that she'll never break her vows. The Highlights
This production combines strong cast (mainly Canadian) and beautiful 19th century set designs over Tchaikovsky's emotionally loaded music. Probably in the top five operas I have seen in Montreal, it was hard to only choose a few highlights.
Nicole Car and Etienne Dupuis - Real life vs Opera life
Eugene Onegin (Etienne Dupuis) and Tatyana (Nicole Car), Opera de Montreal, 2019. Photo: Yves Renaud.
Needless to say that Montreal went completely crazy over the opera couple of the hour! Yep, in the odd event that you didn't know yet, Canadian baritone Etienne Dupuis and Australian soprano Nicole Car are married in real life. They both interpreted the lead roles of the opera magnificently, each bringing their personal touches to the characters.
Nicole's attention to detail, down to her shy nods, makes you empathize so much with what Tatyana is going through. It's like reliving your first love all over again, but from a 3000-seat concert hall. The famous letter scene in Act 1 was a rollercoaster of emotions, from excitement to dread, and pouring love to regret. There was some resemblance to My Fair Lady I could have danced all night that gave me some serious feels. How amazing is it that the Opera de Montreal could welcome a star like Nicole? Pretty amazing, it's pretty amazing. I am so thrilled to have finally seen her perform live and I very much looking forward to the other opera singers that will soon make their debut in Wilfred-Pelletier Hall of Place des Arts. ​
As for Etienne, I think the last time I saw him perform was in The Barber of Seville back in 2014. In just a few years, his voice and stage presence have matured and grown so much leading him to perform in some of the greatest opera houses worldwide. It's incredible to see the evolution singers go through their career! And even if it seems like just a small thing, I cannot not tip my hat to Etienne for falling to the ground in the duel! Makes you go 'Wait, what?' Just a nice simple element of surprise that shows just how much each production and performance is different.
If you loved them as much as I did, or you missed these performances (gasps!), you will be relieved to know that the power couple will be back in Montreal this December to perform with the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal alonside Marie-Nicole Lemieux. 
Eugene Onegin (Etienne Dupuis), Opera de Montreal, 2019. Photo: Yves Renaud.
Owen McCausland as Lensky
Kuda, kuda, Lensky's aria in Act 2 is so well known and tenor Owen McCauslanddid not disappoint. Alone on stage, he truly connected with the audience as Lensky recalls his life and love for Olga, dialoguing with the clarinet. For the tenor who did the world premiere last year of Chaakapesh, The Trickster's Quest with the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal last season, this opera marks Owen's debut with the Opera de Montreal.
Spencer Britten as Triquet
All hail Monsieur Triquet! Serving a perfect French pronounciation in an otherwise completely Russian opera, tenor Spencer Britten had this charismatic stage presence and assurance in this role. A current member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opera de Montreal, he's career already includes impressive highlights including recent performances with the Orchestre de l'Agora and at the Glimmerglass Festival. He's also killing it on the gram so make sure to check that out.
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