Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades

The Queen of Spades is an opera in three acts composed by Tchaikovsky in 1890, based on the libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer's brother. The opera is very loosely inspired by Pushkin's short story of the same name. The story unfolds in Saint Petersburg at the end of the 18th century. Hermann is no longer Pushkin's cynical and grotesque character, but a great romantic hero madly in love with Lisa – and with gambling... The Tchaikovsky brothers were criticised for betraying the spirit of Pushkin's work. They did, however, create a tremendous, surprisingly complex hero.

Gilbert Deflo's interpretation of the piece has been widely praised. The decor and costumes accurately recreate an 18th-century atmosphere. Ostentatious luxury emanates from the bedroom, the games room and the ballroom, with its many chandeliers and colonnades. This Catalan production's vocal distribution includes the tenor Misha Didyk in the role of Hermann – he plays a cold and cynical character, similar to Pushkin's original Hermann. In the role of Lisa, Emily Magee employs her soprano voice with ease. The chorus and dancers play a crucial part in the staging and contribute to a spectacular display of costumes.

Photo: © Antoni Bofill