Dive into the gripping world of Russian history and political intrigue with Modest Mussorgsky's seminal opera, "Boris Godunov." This monumental work, recorded live at the prestigious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the raw power and dramatic intensity of Mussorgsky's composition. Spanning nearly three hours, this 2024 release from Warner Classics is a testament to the enduring relevance and artistic brilliance of Mussorgsky's vision.
"Boris Godunov" is a sprawling opera in four acts with a prologue, based on the historical drama by Alexander Pushkin. Mussorgsky's libretto weaves a tale of ambition, guilt, and the corrupting influence of power, set against the backdrop of 16th-century Russia. The opera follows the tumultuous reign of Tsar Boris Godunov, a man haunted by the specter of the young prince he may have ordered killed to seize the throne.
This recording features a stellar cast of vocalists and the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, led by a renowned conductor, delivering a performance that is both historically accurate and deeply resonant. The opera's iconic scenes, such as Pimen's Monologue, the Coronation Scene, and the haunting Clock Scene, are brought to life with stunning clarity and dramatic flair.
Mussorgsky's score is a masterclass in orchestration, blending rich harmonies, dramatic choral writing, and memorable arias. The opera's choral sections, in particular, are a highlight, showcasing the full power and range of the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus. The recording captures the opera in its original Russian, preserving the authenticity and cultural richness of the work.
Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "Boris Godunov" offers a compelling and immersive experience. This 2024 release is a celebration of Mussorgsky's genius and a reminder of the enduring power of opera to captivate and inspire.
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue: IntroductionModest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue: "Nu, chtozh vy?" (Officier, Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Stanisław Pieczora, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue: Shchelkalov's Adress. "Pravoslavnye! Ne umolim boyarin" (Shchelkalov)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Kim Borg, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue: Pilgrim's Chorus. "Slava tebe, tvortsu vsevyshnemu" (Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue, Coronation Scene: IntroductionModest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue, Coronation Scene: "Da zdrastvuet tsar' Boris Fedorovich!" (Shuysky, Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue, Coronation Scene: Entry of Boris. "Skorbit dusha!" (Boris)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Prologue, Coronation Scene: "Slava! Slava! Slava!" (Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Pimen's Monologue. "Eshche odno poslednee skazan's" (Pimen)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Grigoriy's Dream. "Bozhe krepkiy pravyi" (Chorus, Grigoriy, Pimen)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Grigoriy's Dream. "Ty vse pisal i snom ne pozabylsa" (Grigoriy, Pimen)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Boris' Crime. "Davno, chestnoy otets" (Grigoriy, Pimen)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: "Zvonyat k zautreni" (Chorus, Grigoriy, Pimen)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Song of the Hostess. "Poymala ya siza seleznya" (The Hostess, Varlaam, Misail)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Lydia Romanova, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: "Zheno, mir domu tvoemu!" (Varlaam, Misail, The Hostess, Grigoriy)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Lydia Romanova, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Drinking Song. "Kak vo gorode bylo vo Kazani" (Varlaam, Grigoriy, Misail)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: "Kak edet en" (Varlaam, Grigoriy, The Hostess)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Lydia Romanova, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: "Vy chto za lyudi?" (Nikitich, Misail, Varlaam, Grigoriy, The Hostess)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Lydia Romanova, Nicolai Gedda, Stanisław Pieczora, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 1: Grigoriy's Flight. "Ya gramotnyi" (Grigoriy, Nikitich, Varlaam, Misail)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Nicolai Gedda, Stanisław Pieczora, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Kseniya's Lament. "Gde ty, zhenikh moy" (Kseniya, The Nurse)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Ludmila Lebedeva, Lydia Romanova, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Song of the Gnat. "Kak komar drova rubil" (The Nurse)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Lydia Romanova, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Clapping Scene. "Ekh, mama maushka, vot tak skazochka!" (Feodor, The Nurse)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Lydia Romanova, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: "Chevo?" (Feodor, The Nurse, Kseniya)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Ludmila Lebedeva, Lydia Romanova, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Map Scene. "A ty, moy syn, chem zanyat?" (Boris, Feodor)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Monologue. "Dostig ya vysshey vlasti" (Boris)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: "Ay, kysh!" (Boris, Chorus, A Boyar, Feodor)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Eugenia Zareska, Gustav Ustinov, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Tale of the Parakeet. "Popin'ka nash sidel" (Feodor, Boris)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: "Velikiy gosudar, chelom byu" (Shuysky, Boris, Feodor)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: "Slykhal li ty, kogda-nibud'" (Boris, Shuysky)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: "V Ugliche, v sobore" (Shuysky, Boris)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 2: Clock Scene. "Uf, tyazhelo!" (Boris)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Boris Christoff, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Na Visle lazurnoy" (Chorus, Marina)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Krasotka panna blagodarna" (Marina)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Skuchno Marine" (Marina)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Akh! Akh, eto vy, moy otets" (Marina, Rangoni)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Kim Borg, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Krasoyu svoeyu pleni samozvantsa" (Marina, Rangoni)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Kim Borg, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: Aria. "V polnoch, v sadu, u fontana..." (Dimitriy)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: Polonaise - "Vashey stratsi ya ne veryu, pane" (Marina, Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Eugenia Zareska, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Dimitriy! Tsarevitch! Dimitriy!" (Marina, Dimitriy)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "Tebya, tebya odnu, Marina" (Dimitriy, Marina)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Eugenia Zareska, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 3: "O, tsarevich, umolyayu" (Marina, Dimitriy, Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Eugenia Zareska, Nicolai Gedda, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: Capture of Krushchov. "Vali syuda" (Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: Mocking of Krushchov. "Ne sokol letit" (Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: Taunting of the Simpleton. "Trrr… Zheleznyi kolpal" (Chorus, Simpleton)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Wassili Pasternak, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: "Solntse, luna pomerknuli" (Varlaam, Misail, Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: Entry of the Jesuits. "Domine, domine, salvum fac" (Chorus, Lavitsky, Chernikovsky, Varlaam, Misail)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Eugène Bousquet, Raymond Bonte, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: "Slava tebe, tsarevichu" (Chorus, Varlaam, Misail, Lavitsky, Chernikovsky, Dimitriy)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Eugène Bousquet, Nicolai Gedda, Raymond Bonte, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: Lament. "Leytes', leytes', slyozy gor'kie" (Simpleton)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Wassili Pasternak, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: Council of Boyars. "Chto zh, poydem na golosa, boyare" (Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov, Act 4: "Zhal', Shuyskogo net knayazya" (Boris, Shuysky, Chorus)Modest Mussorgsky, Issay Dobrowen, André Bielecki, Boris Christoff, Chœurs russes de Paris, Orchestre National Radiodiffusion Française
Modest Mussorgsky, born in 1839 in Karevo, Russia, was a pioneering composer whose work defined the Russian nationalist school of music. As one of the esteemed "Mighty Handful" or "The Five," Mussorgsky sought to create a unique Russian musical identity, often breaking away from Western musical conventions. His most renowned work, the opera "Boris Godunov," premiered in 1874 and remains a cornerstone of Russian classical music. Mussorgsky's compositions, characterized by their originality and emotional depth, continue to captivate audiences with their innovative spirit and rich cultural heritage. His legacy as a composer who fearlessly explored new musical territories endures, making him one of the most influential figures in 19th-century Russian music.
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Modest Mussorgsky
