Boris Godunov (opera)

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

Synopsis (1872 version)

:Place, Russia.

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:Time, 1598-1605.

Related Topics:
1598 - 1605

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Prologue. Scene I is set in the courtyard of the Novodievichy Monastery near Moscow, where the populace (at the instigation of a police officer) is pleading for Boris to lead his helpless people and assume the sceptre of Russia. The secretary of the Douma comes out of the convent, and informs the crowd that the Tzar still refuses. The crowd renews its appeal. Scene II takes place in a square in the Moscow Kremiln. The people are awaiting the coronation of the Tzar. He appears to cries of joy and praise, addresses the people, and then enters the Cathedral of the Assumption amid great spectacle.

Related Topics:
Novodievichy Monastery - Douma

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ACT I. Scene I is set in a cell within the Chudov Monastery. The young novice Gregory awakes from a horrible dream. From the old monk Pimen he learns the story of the murdered Tzarevitch and immediately conceives the idea of seeking adventure and power as a pretender. Scene II is set in an inn near the Lithuanian border. Gregory enters with two monks who have escaped from the monastery with him. There is drinking, and the monk Varlaam tells the tale of the battle of Kazan. Shortly afterwards a guard appears in search of a fugitive whose description tallies with that of Gregory - who rushes from the room with the guard in pursuit.

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Act II takes place in the Tzar's luxurious apartments in the Kremlin. Word is brought to the Tzar that a man claiming to be Dimitri is rousing the people. The Tzar betrays great agony of mind.

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ACT III. Scene I is in a garden before the Polish Castle of Mniszech. In a love scene between the False Dmitri I and Marina Mniszech, she spurs him on to lead the attack against Moscow so that he may seize the throne and make her queen. Scene II is in the Forest of Kromy where Dimitri's army disperses a crowd of vagrants and rescues some of his adherents. Scene III is before the Kremlin. A session is being held, presided over by the Tzar to decide what judgment shall be meted out to the false Dimitri. An old peasant tells the Tzar how he was cured of blindness when praying at the tomb of the dead Tzarevitch, and the Tzar, deeply impressed after counselling his son to reign wisely, prays that his great crimes may be forgiven him and falls dead.

Related Topics:
Polish - False Dmitri I - Marina Mniszech - Moscow - Kromy

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