Nicholas Probst

Tchaikovsky's opera, PIKOVAYA DAMA (THE QUEEN OF SPADES) is based on a story by Pushkin, but the libretto tweaks the story ever so slightly, by having the lead protagonist, Gherman, already in love with the object of his desire before the plot is firmly put into motion. And the change makes all the difference, imbuing the piece with a sense of romanticism that allows for a resolution that's more poignant and unsettling. The Union Avenue Opera have played their 'trump card' with a resplendently dark production of this tragic tale.