Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky: A Guide to the Opera

If you are a fan of opera, you might have heard of Boris Godunov, one of the most famous and influential works of Russian opera. The opera was composed by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839-1881), a renowned Russian composer who was part of the group known as The Five, who aimed to create a distinctively Russian musical style. The opera is based on the historical drama Boris Godunov by Aleksandr Pushkin, and the History of the Russian State by Nikolay Karamzin.

Boris Godunov tells the story of the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar from 1598 to 1605 during the Time of Troubles, a period of political and social turmoil in Russia. The opera depicts Boris's rise to power, his guilt over the murder of the young heir Dmitry Ivanovich, his struggle with his conscience and his enemies, and his eventual death. The opera also features the character of the False Dmitry, a pretender who claims to be the resurrected Dmitry and leads a rebellion against Boris.

How Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky Was Created

Boris Godunov was Mussorgsky's only completed opera and his magnum opus. He composed the opera between 1868 and 1873 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He wrote the libretto himself, using Pushkin's play and Karamzin's history as his main sources. He also consulted other historical documents and chronicles to ensure accuracy and authenticity.

Mussorgsky faced many challenges and difficulties in creating his opera. He had to deal with censorship issues, as Pushkin's play was banned by the authorities for its portrayal of Russian history. He also had to overcome technical problems, such as finding suitable singers for the roles, especially for Boris, who requires a powerful bass voice. He also had to cope with personal troubles, such as his alcoholism and depression.

Mussorgsky revised his opera several times, changing its structure, music, and text. He originally composed the opera in seven scenes without a prologue or an epilogue. He later added a prologue and an epilogue, and divided the opera into four acts and a prologue. He also made changes to some of the scenes and characters, such as adding or removing choruses, solos, or dialogues.

How Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky Was Performed

Boris Godunov had a long and complicated history of performance. The opera was first performed in 1874 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, under the direction of Eduard Nápravník. However, this version was heavily edited and altered by Nápravník and others, who cut or changed many parts of Mussorgsky's original score. The opera received mixed reviews from critics and audiences, who praised some aspects of the music and drama, but criticized others.

After Mussorgsky's death in 1881, his friend and fellow composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov took it upon himself to revise and orchestrate Boris Godunov. He aimed to make the opera more coherent, consistent, and accessible for modern listeners. He made many changes to Mussorgsky's score, such as smoothing out the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, adding or removing instruments, and altering some of the vocal parts. He also made some changes to the libretto, such as correcting some historical errors or linguistic mistakes.

Rimsky-Korsakov's version of Boris Godunov was first performed in 1896 at the Solodovnikov Theatre in Moscow. It became the standard version of the opera for many years, and was widely performed in Russia and abroad. It was also recorded several times by various singers and conductors.

Who Are the Characters and Voices of Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

Boris Godunov features a large and diverse cast of characters, who represent different aspects of Russian society and history. The opera has more than 60 solo roles, as well as several choruses and crowds. The opera also requires a variety of vocal types and ranges, from bass to soprano.

The main characters of Boris Godunov are:

Boris Godunov, the tsar of Russia, a bass. He is a complex and tragic figure, who suffers from guilt, paranoia, and remorse over his past crimes. He tries to be a good ruler and a loving father, but he is haunted by his enemies and his conscience.

Grigory Otrepyev, also known as the False Dmitry, a tenor. He is a young and ambitious monk who pretends to be the murdered heir to the throne. He leads a rebellion against Boris with the support of Poland and Lithuania. He is charismatic and cunning, but also reckless and naive.

Feodor Godunov, Boris's son and heir, a mezzo-soprano. He is a gentle and intelligent boy who loves his father and studies history. He becomes the tsar after Boris's death, but he is soon overthrown by Grigory.

Xenia Godunov, Boris's daughter, a soprano. She is a sad and lonely girl who mourns the death of her fiancé. She is devoted to her father and brother.

Marina Mnishek, a Polish princess who marries Grigory, a soprano. She is a proud and ambitious woman who wants to become the tsarina of Russia. She seduces Grigory with her beauty and charm, but she does not love him.

Pimen, an old monk and chronicler of Russian history, a bass. He is a wise and pious man who knows the truth about Boris's crime. He inspires Grigory to impersonate Dmitry and restore justice.

Varlaam, a vagabond monk who travels with Missail, a bass. He is a comic and drunken character who sings a song about the siege of Kazan.

Shuisky, a boyar and an enemy of Boris, a tenor. He is a cunning and treacherous man who plots against Boris and supports Grigory. He also informs Boris about the appearance of the False Dmitry.

Other characters include Missail, another vagabond monk; Nikitich, a police officer; Rangoni, a Jesuit priest; Kurbsky, an exiled nobleman; Fyodor Kolychev (later known as Filaret), an exiled archbishop; Chernikovsky, an officer; Krushchov, another officer; Lavitsky and Chernikovsky, two monks; Sandomirsky, an old Polish nobleman; Basmanov, an officer who defects to Grigory's side; Pushkin (not related to the poet), one of Grigory's men; Boyarsky Sobor (the Boyar Council); Duma (the Parliament); Streltsy (the Guards); People; Pilgrims; Polish Nobles; Polish Ladies; Jesuits; etc.

What Is the Synopsis of Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

Boris Godunov is a four-act opera with a prologue that covers the events of Russian history from 1598 to 1605. The opera has a complex and nonlinear plot, with many scenes and characters that are not directly connected to the main storyline. The opera also has different versions, as Mussorgsky revised his work several times. Here is a brief synopsis of the original version of the opera:

Prologue: The opera begins with a scene outside the Novodevichy Monastery, where the people are forced by the police to beg Boris Godunov to accept the throne after the death of Tsar Feodor. Boris, however, refuses to become the tsar, feeling guilty for his involvement in the murder of Feodor's brother Dmitry, the rightful heir. The people pray for Boris to change his mind. The next scene shows Boris in the Kremlin, where he is finally persuaded by the boyars and the patriarch to become the tsar. He accepts the crown with apparent reluctance, but secretly rejoices in his power.

Act 1: The first act takes place four years later, in 1603. The first scene shows a cell in the Chudov Monastery, where an old monk named Pimen is writing a chronicle of Russian history. He tells his young disciple Grigory about the murder of Dmitry by Boris's agents, and how Dmitry would have been the same age as Grigory if he had lived. Grigory becomes fascinated by this story and decides to escape from the monastery and impersonate Dmitry. He hopes to overthrow Boris and claim the throne for himself. The next scene shows an inn near the Lithuanian border, where Grigory meets two vagabond monks named Varlaam and Missail. They are wanted by the authorities for their involvement in a riot. Grigory learns from a poster that Boris has issued a warrant for his arrest, describing him as a runaway monk who pretends to be Dmitry. He manages to trick Varlaam into reading the poster aloud and changing the description to match Varlaam instead of himself. He then escapes across the border, pursued by the police.

Act 2: The second act takes place in 1604, in Boris's apartments in the Kremlin. The first scene shows Boris's children, Feodor and Xenia, playing with their old nurse. Xenia is mourning her dead fiancé, who was killed by Boris's enemies. Boris enters and tries to comfort his children. He then dismisses them and reflects on his troubled reign. He is tormented by nightmares and hallucinations of the murdered Dmitry. He is visited by Shuisky, a boyar who secretly hates him. Shuisky tells him that a pretender has appeared in Poland, claiming to be Dmitry and gathering support from the Polish nobility and the Catholic Church. He also tells him that Pimen has witnessed a miracle at Dmitry's grave: a blind man has regained his sight after praying there. Boris is shaken by this news and falls into a fit of madness. He sees a vision of Dmitry's ghost and cries out for mercy.

Act 3: The third act takes place in 1605, in Poland. The first scene shows a castle in Sandomierz, where Marina Mnishek, a Polish princess, is waiting for Grigory, whom she has agreed to marry in order to become the tsarina of Russia. She is bored by her suitors and longs for power and glory. She is visited by Rangoni, a Jesuit priest who urges her to seduce Grigory and convert him to Catholicism. He tells her that Grigory is near and that she must meet him at night in the garden. The next scene shows

Conclusion

Boris Godunov (Libretto) (Russian Edition) by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky is a remarkable opera that explores the themes of power, guilt, and fate in the context of Russian history. The opera is based on the historical drama by Pushkin and the history by Karamzin, but it also reflects Mussorgsky's own vision and creativity. The opera is notable for its realistic and vivid portrayal of the Russian people and their culture, as well as its innovative and original musical style. The opera has a complex and nonlinear plot, with many scenes and characters that are not directly related to the main storyline. The opera also has different versions, as Mussorgsky revised his work several times.

Boris Godunov is a masterpiece of Russian opera and one of the most influential works of the genre. The opera has been performed and recorded by many singers and conductors, and has inspired many adaptations and interpretations. The opera is a challenging and rewarding work for both performers and listeners, as it offers a rich and diverse musical and dramatic experience. 4aad9cdaf3