»Either I am terribly mistaken, or ›The 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 the centre of the story is Hermann, a young officer with ambitions to climb the social ladder and join the ranks of the rich and powerful. He is obsessed with a secret gambling technique. His obsession intensifies when he falls in love with Lisa, the granddaughter of an elderly countess. In order to get his hands on the money, he tries to outwit the countess, nicknamed »The Queen of Spades«, and extract the secret of the mysterious gambling technique from her. If he succeeds, Hermann can look forward to glittering riches, unlimited power and the love of his life: Lisa. As Hermann puts everything on the line, he falls into a maelstrom of passion, jealousy and madness.

Tchaikovsky’s masterful music lends a deep emotional intensity to the plot and captures the tragedy and drama of the characters in breathtaking fashion. With its tempestuous opening strains and captivating melodies, »The Queen of Spades« offers a haunting portrayal of love, obsession and destiny.