Pique Dame

In the organizer's words:

Opera in three acts and seven scenes by Peter I. Tchaikovsky | libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky, after Alexander Pushkin | in Russian with German and English surtitles

Duration: 3 hours | 1 intermission | ages 14 and up

"Either I am making a terrible mistake, or 'Queen of Spades' really is the crowning achievement of my life's work!" was Peter Tchaikovsky's verdict on his penultimate opera, which premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg in 1890 and has captivated audiences ever since.

At its center is Hermann, a young officer who wants to achieve social advancement and become one of the powerful and rich in society. He is obsessed with a secret gambling technique. His obsession is intensified when he falls in love with Lisa, the granddaughter of an old countess. In order to get his hands on some money, he tries to outwit the countess, nicknamed the "Queen of Spades", and to coax the secret of the mysterious gambling technique out of her. If he succeeds, Hermann can expect glittering riches, infinite power and the love of his life: Lisa. While Hermann puts everything on the line, he gets caught up in a maelstrom of passion, jealousy and madness.

Tchaikovsky's masterful music lends the plot a deep emotional intensity and captures the tragedy and drama of the characters in a breathtaking way. With stormy opening strains and captivating melodies, "Queen of Spades" offers a haunting portrayal of love, obsession and fate.

Note: Contains sequence of flashing lights and patterns.