I attended 2 performances, premiere and second show. Production is highly unusual for "Onegin" but definitely Mr. Freyer had his strong conception.
The main idea is about inertia of life and loneliness of each person.
In way it is possible to tie up this with "Onegin".
Practically it was no action on the stage. Absolute minimum of movements. Music (orchestra) in this condition somehow was even more important. Barenboim was great, all singing were (may be because of production) quite faceless, all but Rolando...He was THE STAR. His voice never was better. His timbre had so many colors, he was expressing all Lensky's joy and pain with incredible energy. How he could do it without any movement, in fact it was some movements. In most difficult places of aria he had practically to stay on one leg and slowly go down on one knee and again slowly to go up. I know that at the end of performance he had pain in all body.
Second time I see him as Lensky (first was in Covent Garden 2006) and again there is opinion that opera should be named 'Lensky'. Rolando was absolute center of all three hours of show. His gorgeous singing and his presence on the stage so powerful that he "occupies" all stage and takes all your attention. Incredible Artist. And.. HE LIKES production. His intelligent and adventurous nature allows him to enjoy experimenting.
