Fiennes Directs Opera Debut

Oscar-nominated British actor Ralph Fiennes, best known for his commanding screen presence in films like Schindler's List and The Grand Budapest Hotel, is stepping into a new creative role. Next season, he will make his opera directing debut at the iconic Palais Garnier in Paris with a production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.

Set to captivate audiences from January 26 to February 27, 2025, the Paris Opera’s grand production of Eugene Onegin will showcase Boris Pinkhasovich in the titular role, alongside Ruzan Mantashyan as the lovestruck Tatiana, Bogdan Volkov as the impassioned poet Lensky, and the renowned Susan Graham as the matriarch Madame Larina. The musical direction will be helmed by the acclaimed Semyon Bychkov, while the visual splendor of the performance will be crafted by set designer Michael Levine and costume visionary Annemarie Woods.

Fiennes’ connection to Eugene Onegin runs deep — he played the title role in the 1999 film adaptation, directed by his sister, Martha Fiennes. The opera, based on Alexander Pushkin’s classic novel, follows the tragic story of a disillusioned aristocrat who spurns love, only to regret it too late. “Eugene Onegin is a work of profound emotional depth, and I am honored to bring my perspective to it,” Fiennes noted.

The Paris Opera’s 2025-26 season promises a dynamic mix of classic and bold reimaginings, including new productions of Verdi’s Aida, Wagner’s Die Walküre and Siegfried, and Antonia Bembo’s Ercole amante. Among the season’s revivals is Claus Guth’s futuristic take on La Bohème, set in space, and John Adams' Nixon in China, featuring Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson.

With Fiennes at the helm, this Eugene Onegin is poised to be a highlight of the season, blending theatrical mastery with operatic grandeur.