Reviving Russian revelry

The Opera Center of the China Central Conservatory will join hands with the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory to stage Tchaikovsky's riveting opera Eugene Onegin at the Tianqiao Theater from until Tuesday. The show will close the ninth Central Conservatory Music Festival.

Based on Pushkin's novel, one of the most treasured works of Russian literature, the opera follows the dashing and worldly gentleman Eugene Onegin, who comes to regret his blas rejection of the impressionable country girl Tatyana's love and his careless incitement of a fatal duel with his best friend Lensky.

The opera was first performed in March 1879 by students of the Moscow Conservatory. Now, artists and students from both the prestigious conservatories will revive the classic production to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.