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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Fiona Maddocks's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Steven Pimlott, Elaine Kidd (Revival Director).
Cast: The Royal Opera, Jiri Belohlavek (cond), Christopher Willis (cond, Apr 1 & 7), Antony McDonald (des), Diana Montague (Madam Larina), Sarah Pring (Madam Larina, Mar 26, Apr 4 & 7), Hibla Gerzmava (Tatyana), Marina Poplavskaya (Mar 8 (mat), 14, 20, Apr 1), Ekaterina Semenchuk (Olga), Elizabeth Sikora (Filipyevna), Piotr Beczala (Lensky), Gerald Finley (Eugene Onegin)
Description: Tchaikovsky's powerful reading of Pushkin's drama, directed by Elaine Kidd in a revival of Steven Pimlott's production, with Gerald Finley in the title role and Hibla Gerzmava and Marina Poplavskaya as the naive Tatyana. Conducted by Jiri Belohlavek (Christopher Willis, April 1st and 7th) and sung in Russian with English surtitles.
Trains: Tube: Covent Garden 
Phone: 0207304 4000
Website: www.roh.org.uk
Email: onlinebooking@roh.org.uk
Extra info: Air Conditioning, Food
One remarkable performance, that of Gerald Finley in the title role, stood out in this first revival of the late Steven Pimlott's 2006 staging of Eugene Onegin, directed by and handsomely if strenuously designed in bright rustic Russo-Napoleonic style by Antony McDonald.
Tchaikovsky's music penetrates to the heart of Pushkin's poem, forcing aside its artifice of cool irony. Finley, ever more wild and impassioned, heaped risk on vocal risk to deepen the character of the flawed hero. It helps, too, that this Canadian baritone, now in his prime, has legs born for knee-breeches, obligingly provided by the 1820s costumes.
Russian soprano Hibla Gerzmava offered vocal insights as impetuous young Tatyana (alternating with Marina Poplavskaya) but remained too impassive. Her big moment is the Letter Scene, that huge monologue in which she pours her heart and inkwell out to the unyielding Onegin and lives to regret it. If there's any message here, it's don't press "Send".
Piotr Beczala's Lensky had ringing top notes but wooden presence and Ekaterina Semenchuk's Olga, though securely sung, sacrificed charm to a desperate dose of over-acting. Chorus and cameos gave strong support.
For his ROH debut, Jiri Bĕlohlávek conducted with sensitivity and tenderness, his love of the music evident in every note, expressively played by the ROH orchestra. He must be a dream to sing for. The tentative moments should soon disappear to reveal the perfection of this magically woven masterpiece.
• Until 7 April (020 7304 4000).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
