Ilya Repin´s picture of Onegin and Lensky´s duel. (Wikipedia).

General Secretary Kim Jong Il gave guidance to the creation of opera "Evgeni Onegin".

After learning about the creation of "Evgeni Onegin", he watched the opera under creation.

Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory is recreating the Russian opera "Evgeni Onegin", which was staged in 1958 by it, in keeping with the demand of the new century in hearty response to the instruction of Kim Jong Il to depict the national classics as well as world´s famous masterpieces.

Kim Jong Il highly praised the creative success made by the teaching staff and students of the conservatory, expressing great satisfaction over the fact that they have produced the admirable opera of high artistic value perfectly meeting the requirements of the original work by devoting all their creative wisdom and enthusiasm.

Noting that the opera, created in a brief span of time, ensures all its aspects on a high artistic level, he said that the success made by the conservatory goes to prove that a remarkable creative upswing can be brought when the innovative discernment in the 21st century is combined with the creative mode and work-style dating back to the 1970s.

It is high admirable that young students have had abilities to produce any foreign opera, he said, adding that this proud achievement is a vivid manifestation of the validity and vitality of the WPK´s policy of training artiste reserves.

He stressed that the Korean people, who have the world-famous cultural assets such as the five revolutionary operas and proudly advance toward the world with high pride and self-confidence of being a soon-to-be great prosperous and powerful nation, should get better understanding of the world culture.

Accompanying him were Secretary Kim Ki Nam and department directors Kim Kyong Hui, Jang Song Thaek and Choe Ik Gyu of the WPK Central Committee.

Source: KCNA - June 7, 2009

FOOTNOTES
Eugene Onegin (Opera) Wikipedia
Eugene Onegin (Novel) Wikipedia