The Museum of Russian Art welcomes back Dr. Anna Barker for an in-depth exploration of Eugene Onegin, one of the most enduring works of Russian literature and music.
Eugene Onegin, A Novel in Verse, composed between 1825 and 1832 and first published as a complete edition in 1833, is the most Russian and, simultaneously, most European of all 19th century Russian novels. Celebrated for its admirable heroine, Tatyana, who to this day remains the gold standard of Russian womanhood, and for its dejected and brooding protagonist, Onegin, the novel portrays one of the most famous Russian duels, which foreshadows the death of its creator, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837), at the age of 37. The novel is best known in its operatic iteration created by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) in 1879.
2026 offers extraordinary riches to the consummate Eugene Onegin fan – from full stagings at Opéra Garnier in Paris and Metropolitan Opera in NYC to a ballet adaptation world premiere at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago.
Professor Barker’s talk will focus on the history of the creation of the novel and the opera and discus the Paris and NYC productions – directed by the English actor Ralph Fiennes and the Tony Award winner Deborah Warner, respectively. The much-anticipated Joffrey Ballet production reinterprets the novel in a ballet iteration, composed by Ilya Demutsky, known for his 2019 ballet version of Anna Karenina, and choreographer Yuri Possokhov, former Bolshoi and San Francisco Ballet dancer.
Professor Anna Barker teaches Russian Literature and Culture at the University of Iowa. She writes opera reviews for the London-based Opera Magazine. Anna is a Fellow of the International Napoleonic Society and serves on the board of directors of the Napoleonic Historical Society. Her book 13 Notes from Napoleon, Iowa: Musings on the Edge of the French Empire was published in 2025 (Ice Cube Press).
Friday, June 19, 2026
Doors open at 6:00 pm | Presentation at 7:00 pm
The lecture will be held in the Museum’s Main Gallery. All galleries and TMORA Shop will be open prior to the event for your enjoyment.
TICKETS: $12 General Admission | $10 TMORA Member | $5 Student
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