Hello from St. Petersburg!
I caught the "Demon Onegin" musical two years ago, which drew me in with its mysterious title and intriguing trailer (you can watch it on YouTube). I'd also seen "The Master and Margarita" by the same company, Makers Lab - it was absolutely fantastic! So, I was expecting a wild ride with this one.
The musical is based on the famous poem by Alexander Pushkin, "Eugene Onegin", which has the nickname "The Encyclopedia of Russian Life" due to its vivid descriptions of aristocratic and peasant life.
In the original poem, the central theme revolves around the relationships between Onegin and his love interest, Tatyana, and her friend, the poet Lensky. In the end, the grown-up Tatyana rejects Onegin's sudden interest, although she confesses that she still loves him.
program
programIn the musical, however, the events unfold non-linearly: we see an older, lonely Onegin regretting his past actions, and a married Tatyana visiting him. And then there's Demon, the one responsible for the tragic events - Lensky's death and Onegin's separation from Tatyana. The Demon is cunning, offering Tatyana the chance to "rethink" her life, starting from the moment she met Onegin, and decide who she wants to stay with.The contemporary musical "Demon Onegin" is the most successful attempt at reimagining a classic. The first performance was a true masterpiece, blending the best of Russian theater and Broadway standards.
The creators chose to name things as they are. Not many people remember that the poem "Demon" was written by Pushkin as part of "Eugene Onegin".
The mastermind behind this unique musical is the Demon Onegin himself – the director and puppeteer. The creators have laid bare the themes of the novel that were previously left unspoken. This makes the Demon Onegin musical a bold artistic statement that will leave you with a lasting impression.
Pushkin purists, be warned! 'Love is ruled by Satan' – the show features a scene with Tatyana baring all... and in the end, does she end up with Onegin? You'll have to find out for yourself!
program booklet
program bookletThe role of Eugene Onegin is played by the incredibly talented Ivan Ozhogin, who masterfully performs each aria. He's great as the villain, and he really gets into character, like in his portrayal of Woland in 'The Master and Margarita' and Count von Krokus in 'The Vampire Ball'.Anton Avdeev plays the role of Vladimir Lensky. He's a fantastic actor and singer, and I especially loved how he performed the role of the Master in 'The Master and Margarita' musical.
Anastasia Makeeva (Tatyana Larina) brings a passionate Tatyana to the stage. She also plays the lead role in 'The Master and Margarita' musical, but unfortunately, I didn't get to see her performance there.
The costumes and set design are impressive. The choreography is beautiful, although I found it a bit too much at times, just like the dialogue between secondary characters or between secondary characters themselves. It felt a bit dragging, and I missed the energy of 'The Master and Margarita' musical. Sometimes I wished I could close my eyes and wait for the scene to change.
the theater hall I've been to the LDM Theater's New Stage a few times, and I have to say, it's a bit of a trek from the metro. Back in the day, there was a free shuttle from Chkalovskaya station, but I'm not sure if that's still the case. The LDM Theater's New Stage is located in the heart of St. Petersburg's Petrogradsky district, on Pesochnaya Embankment with a view of Krestovsky Island, within walking distance of three central metro stations: Chkalovskaya, Chernaya Rechka, and Petrogradskaya.
The New Stage was designed and built by American architects and designers. The state-of-the-art sound system was developed by European and American experts.
Imagine walking into a theater with hundreds of butterflies flying overhead, twinkling candles, and 60 massive mirrored chandeliers reflecting light in gold and silver. The comfortable seating area has no balconies or tiers - just a single level with 100% visibility of the stage from each of the 1204 seats.
the theater brochure the theater brochure If you haven't seen 'Master and Margarita', I think you should check out 'Demon Onegin' - it's definitely worth it. What else to do in St. Petersburg?..
The Fabergé Museum is a must-visit for anyone who loves luxury and history.
The Epicenter of the World circus show by the Zapashny brothers is a thrilling experience you won't want to miss.
MY REVIEWS OF PERFUME PRODUCTS: check it out
SHOPS IN ST. PETERSBURG: click here