PIQUE DAME

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky considered his penultimate opera, "The Queen of Spades," his masterpiece. The story follows Hermann, a young officer obsessed with a secret gambling technique and climbing the social ladder. He falls in love with Lisa, the granddaughter of the old Countess known as "The Queen of Spades." Hermann tries to trick the Countess into revealing her gambling secret, hoping it will bring him wealth and Lisa's love. His obsession leads him into a whirlwind of passion, jealousy, and madness. Tchaikovsky's music intensifies the drama and tragedy of the characters.

A summary from original text in German | Read the original