I adored SF Opera's Eugene Onegin. I particularly was thrilled by the voice of Evgenia Muravevam, which was was not drowned out by the orchestra. Gordon Bintner's Onegin was elegant and convincing; in fact all singers were first-rate. The staging was beautiful; the chorus fine as always. It was perhaps a subtle production, too subtle for some reviewers.

Imaginative lighting cannot compensate for a production with no sets. There are not even any projections except for one of the rising sun. The leads, Onegin and Tatiana, were excellent actors but lightweight singers, often drowned out by the orchestra. Onegin in particular covered his high notes so tightly he sounded more like he was singing Lieder. The best singer by far was the Lensky, followed by the very moving Prince Gremin, the only big "name" in the cast, Ferrucio Furlanetto, who was awarded the well-deserved San Francisco Opera Medal during curtain calls. Unfortunately, these two secondary singers had only one aria each. I wish General Manager Shilvock had splurged on great voices for the leads in this, the Opera's centennial season.