from Act II, Scene 2 of the Russian opera
Eugene Onegin by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
Libretto: Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
Role: Lensky, fiance of Olga and friend of Onegin
Voice Part: tenor Fach: lyric tenor
Setting: a stream near a mill at dawn, St. Petersburg, Russia, late 1700s
Synopsis: The night before, Lensky challenged Onegin to a duel in response to Onegin's advances on Lensky's fiancee, Olga. Now, on the morning of the duel, Lensky looks back on his happy youth as he waits for Onegin to arrive. He realizes that he will probably die in the duel and that he does not particularly care if he does. The only great loss in his death would be that he would never see Olga again.