This week, the Santa Fe Opera is set to open a revival production of “Eugene Onegin” with a cast of rising stars. Among these is Mattia Olivieri, who will sing the title role.

The Italian baritone will be singing his second Onegin after making his debut at the Palau de les Arts earlier this year. Critics were ecstatic stating, “Italian baritone Mattia Olivieri once again offered his beautiful lyric baritone voice with its remarkable volume and great homogeneity of registers. He was truly notable – a convincing Onegin in every sense.”

Speaking with OperaWire, Olivieri revealed that his favorite scene of the opera is the final duet with Tatiana. “It’s my favorite scene of the opera because we leave the cold character and we find a character who is full of emotion. We go from a serious and cold person to someone who explodes with feelings. He is unable to hold back his emotions and he tries everything. He tries to be kind and calm saying he can give her everything to someone at the end who becomes aggressive because he wants her at all costs. He tells Tatiana that she will only be happy with him and she must be with him. It’s very complicated and full of emotions, something that the first two acts don’t have except for the duet with Lensky and at the end of the Act two concertato.”

Olivieri is known for his Italian repertoire but has also been seen in modern works like “Florencia en el Amazonas” and this season in “Silent Night” at the Metropolitan Opera.

Recordings 

For audiences who want to hear more of Oliveri, check out his recordings of “La Favorite,” “Cosi fan tutte” and “Simon Boccanegra.”

Here he is in “Lucia di Lammermoor” and “Il Barbiere di Siviglia.”