Boris Godunov: opera, 4 acts, prologue

This Opera by Modest Mussorgsky (in picture) is one of his few finished and a true masterpiece. It’s based on Alexander Pushkin’s drama of the same title and Nikolai Karamazin’s History of the Russian Empire.

The opera, which I discovered in a record store in Moscow, takes place in 1598-1605 between Russia and Poland.

It’s a tragic story about the regent of young tsar Fyodor, Boris Godunov. He arranges the murder of the half brother and successor to Fydor, Dimitrii, in order to seize power. Upon Boris’ death he declines to take it, but the crowds acclaim him and he takes the throne, albeit riddled with guilt.

In the monastery of Chudov, old monk Pimen is writing a chronicle of Russia and tells his novice, Gregorii, Boris Godunov’s story. Gregorii, to avenge Dimitrii, pretends to be the murdered and escapes to Lithuania with vagabond friars Varlaam and Misail.

Back in the Kremlin Boris is told the story of the pretender and, although he is reassured of Dmitrii’s assassination, falls into hallucinations over the story of Gregorii.

In Poland, Marina, urges Grigorii, her lover, to become the tsar. In the Kromy forest people rally him to Moscow. In the meantime, in Moscow, the boyars hold an emergency meeting: Pimen has been narrating the ongoing madness of Boris, confirmed upon his entrance. Finally it seems he is miraculously cured form hallucinations before the tomb of Dimitrii, where he himself encounters his own death bidding his farewell to his son and saying his prayers for Russia.

I recommend this monumental opera, always in the original Mussorgsky version and libretto.

Tags: drama, Godunov, Mussorgsky, opera, Russia