Boris Godunov (opera)

Boris Godunov (?????? ???????? in Russian, Boris Godunov in transliteration)

Related Topics:
Russian - Transliteration

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is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky to a Russian libretto by the composer, based on the drama of the same name by Aleksandr Pushkin and on Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin's 'History of the Russian State'. The music is written in a uniquely Russian style, drawing on the composer's knowledge of Russian folk music, and rejecting the influence of German and Italian opera. Pushkin based his play on the historical figure Boris Godunov, and was inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth. In the story (which is not historically acccurate) Boris becomes Tsar after brutally murdering the child Dmitri, the rightful heir. Though Boris is a humane ruler, the land falls into chaos and poverty. A young runaway monk, Grigory, claims to be the living Dmitri and succeeds in marrying Marina, a Polish noblewoman whose lust for power is disguised as passionate love. Having convinced the Polish king of his claim to the throne, the False Dmitri leads the Poles in an invasion of Russia. Boris, guilt-stricken and haunted by hallucinations, falls into madness and dies.

Related Topics:
Opera - Modest Mussorgsky - Libretto - Aleksandr Pushkin - Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin - Russia - Folk music - German - Italian opera - Boris Godunov - Shakespeare - Macbeth

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Mussorgsky's work exists in two authentic versions: the original 1869 version rejected for performance (7 scenes; not performed until 1928), and a heavily revised version from 1872 (prologue and 4 acts) which was first performed at the Maryinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, in 1874. The 1872 'second version' includes new elements that have no parallel in Pushkin; features a somewhat different portrayal of the titular Tzar; and skilfully takes account of the conventional need for some 'love interest'. (A 1997 Kirov Opera recording includes both versions, each with a different singer playing Boris.)

Related Topics:
1869 - 1872 - Maryinsky Theatre - Saint Petersburg - 1874 - Titular Tzar - 1997 - Kirov Opera

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After Mussorgsky's death, the opera was comprehensively edited and re-orchestrated twice (1896 and 1908) by the composer's great friend Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; these more refined and conventionally 'effective' versions kept the work alive for many decades, and remain the ones usually performed today in Russia. In the west, however, Mussorgsky's less polished originals have recently become more popular, with their dark colors and rough edges being widely felt as more in keeping with the character of the story. The opera was also re-orchestrated by Dmitri Shostakovich (1959).

Related Topics:
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Russia - Dmitri Shostakovich

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