Boris Godunov - Bolshoi - Full opera (1)

[NemoProkofiev551]

Wow.

That's pretty much all I have to say. Wow. The introduction is absolutely GORGEOUS.

[MariaCaIIas]

I knew this opera from Korsakov's orchestration... Usually when I am accustomed to a certain thing of beauty, it is almost impossible to switch to its twin product.

This was not the case with Boris... When I first heard the original orchestration I realised what genius is all about...

In fact the comparisson destroyed for me all of Korsakov's oeuvre as I now have to always compare it to Mussorgsky and his sombre, nightly colours!

[MainiacBrainiac]

The intro is all of Russian history composed into one little theme for an oboe.

[lbredikhin5]

Thank you soooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheGlasnost1]

So wonderful, much better than operas than Mozart or Wagner!!! The opening melody is so beautiful, with a great Russian flavour, not to mention that Leopold Stokowski arranged the opera in such an attractive way (the Symphonic Synthesis of Boris Godunov).

[NemoProkofiev551]

@TheGlasnost1 Mozart opera is like... vaudeville... ALL THE WAY. When it comes to opera, Mozart is Wagner's bitch, or rather Mozart is both Mussorgsky's and Wagner's bitch. Mind you, that's just my limited perspective.

[MauComposer10]

Maravillosa

[noteman42]

If it was Stalin's favorite opera, that is indeed ironic, because Pushkin's play was modeled on Shakespeare's Richard III, a portrait of an evil monarch (in Shakespeare's view)--and that certainly would go for Stalin!

[tanjuska69]

odlično!

[plagueofangels666]

thanks so much for uploading, first time i came across an opera with subtitles. pretty sweet!

[chiv78]

Yey! We are doing it in Dallas in the end of the season! Can't wait to start coaching them Russian language hehehe

[Strefanash]

I must admit I tried listening to Mussorgsky's original version and found it dreadfully duill. Rimsky was a far better orchestrator and overall better technician than the self taught genius Mussorgsky.

[RADAMES1983]

@Strefanash

Can not agree with you.

Korsakov was more "academic" orchestraitor, but I think Mussorgsky went 50 years forward in this opera trhen his time...

I find there many extreamly beautiful and interesting moments when i think: How could somebody t write like this in 1872?...

But I agree that it's "harder" to listen to his version.

In the other hand- he is much closer to the Pushkin's peace and the history - full of darkness, misticism and micsture between christianity and paganism...

[Strefanash]

@RADAMES1983

I was speaking only of my taste.I must also admit to not knowing Pushkin's work, in fact I had forgotten that it was based on Pushkin.

I know a little more of the historical Godunov than the literary, as I am a keen reader of Russian history

I do like colourful orchestration yet I know that Shostakovich adored Mussorgsky and was a strong champion of his original scores. And I respect shostakovich greatly

So i hope we can both accept mere differences of taste here

[RADAMES1983]

@Strefanash

Well, sure :)

I like Korsakov Version, cause Korsakov for me is like Bellini - just beautiful- beautiful and beautiful!

But Mussorgsky is deeper and darker...

There is much more Psychology and misticism in his music, as well as new and original ideas.

We also shouldn't forget that it's not a symphony, it's a musical theater.

[gonorreox]

@RADAMES1983 I've been crazy about Boris Godunov since a kid, and although the Rimsky version is the one I'm most familiar with, the one I've heard most, I still agree with you totally. The Mussorgsky version is... just Mussorgsky, and it's the one that I actually like best, even though I very much enjoy Rimsky's orchestration. Your comment was very interesting as I had never really reflected on this.

[solarmanful]

Is this mussorgsky s original version or Rimsky Korsakovs version ?

[RADAMES1983]

@solarmanful It is a Korsakov version.

[Spanguolle]

from 1.45 music makes me cry

[papoocanada]

If Iosef Stalin loved Boris, he had good taste in opera. Boris is not only the greatest Russian opera ever written, but ONE OF THE GREATEST OPERAS ever written - anywhere, by an absolute genius. Sad that Mussorgskii was so drunk, and died at 42 yo, he could have created more great masterpieces. Personally I prefer the very original version, as is fashion today happily, and not what Rimsky or Shostakovich thought was better for us.

[dalecampbl8]

@papoocanada have u heard khovanshchina?

[Glanur2]

I like all of the "novatores", the "five", who founded the Russian national music in the 19th century...and also Tschaikowsky!

[archijerej]

Я уже благодарил, но еще раз большое спасибо за мою любимою оперу. Привет из Польши :)

[RADAMES1983]

@archijerej

Спасибо вам. Я тоже считаю что эта одна из лучших и сильнейших опер, написанных за всю историю жанра.

[VinylToVideo]

In Soviet Russia, opera sing you!

[sondano]

the best prologue of all opera history

[vivascargill]

@sond YES YES YES

[vivascargill]

can any one upload Boris Christoff''s performance?

[HildegardBehrens]

OMG I just love your channel!!!!!.Kisses

[RADAMES1983]

Thank you!! :)))

[Dan1988A]

Merci très beaucoup, Radames1983 !

[BringbackLKandMX]

I checked this out because this opera is said to be Stalin's favorite opera.

[srg2457]

Hardly surprising - can you think of anyone else in all history who could identify so strongly with Boris?

[BorisGodunov]

Well, it's considered by most to be the greatest of all Russian operas, so it's not unlikely that all sorts of people will love it!

[dalecampbl9]

@BringbackLKandMX and the Merry Widow was Hitler's favorite operetta

[P1B1U1H1]

@BringbackLKandMX It would be of interest to learn why Stalin liked this piece.

[TheJoanna73]

Great Opera and impressive performance. Thank you Radames83. Last weekend I watched the modern staging at the Warsaw Opera but this one suits me much more. Thanks.

[mindinsky]

Grazie Mille "Radames1983"

[pianosban]

i will never get tired hearing that scene

[pianosban]

this opera is exelent !! personaly i like it more than the italian opera,

i like the point of view of the russian culture, very diferent with italian music

[RADAMES1983]

Hey hey hey boy!!

"Fuck you"??

Not in my accaunt please!

[Orsa94]

Veramente sono una ragazza! :) Ah,parli italiano! La suono nel mio paese...sul mio canale ci sn anche dei video in cui suoniamo altri pezzi. Se vuoi vederli, sono là!

[RADAMES1983]

Oh scusate! :)

all'inizio anch'Io ho visto la questa opera sul video e dvd, ma in 2007 e 08 finalmente la visto in Bolshoi teatro a Mosca (due volte) , con la stessa impostazione come qui :)

[Orsa94]

Lucky you! (Beato te!) Io non ho mai visto un concerto classico, ma li faccio solo! :)

[RADAMES1983]

:)

Come mai?!

Devi trovare una opera! C'e una bella diffirenza - vedere il dvd, e guardare (e sentire) un concerto (e specialmente una opera) sulla scena!

Credi me...

[Orsa94]

Perchè nel mio paese non fanno tanti concerti. :) Si lo so che c'è molta dfferenza! Sono belle! Ma io amo tanto suonarle...

[RADAMES1983]

In Italia? Non fanno tanti concerti??

:)

[Orsa94]

Hello everyone! I'm from Italy! Thank you Radames, I love this start music... I play the Boris in my musical band where I play the clarinet. Bye-bye! P.S. Excuse my imperfect English!

[RADAMES1983]

Grazie ragazzo! :)

Questa opera e vero meraviglia.

Dove la suoni?

[abelprinceabel]

merci, radames. c'est mon opera prefere, et c'est cool de l'avoir ici en entier, avec les images !!

[MrPolitolog]

Hello from Russia Federation!

Great epic Russian opera!

Thank you. Good fortune!

Привет из Россиийской Федерации!

Великая эпическая Русская опера!

Спасибо. Удачи!

[KINdruchila]

The music is just stunning. I love Musorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov music.

[TheTristan1954]

and Shostakovich?

[KINdruchila]

Спасибо большое за видео. Очень люблю Р-Корсакова, Мусоргского и бас.

Thank you for sharing!

[romino707]

What version is this?

[RADAMES1983]

R. Korsakov

[romino707]

Does the Bolshoi always do the Korsakov version? Because I have a recording of BG that I got off of iTunes, and it doesn't say what version it is. I am assuming that it is the RK version since it sounds just like this live production.

[RADAMES1983]

Yes, till last year.

Last year they debuted a new production (of Alexandr Sakurov) with the original Mussirgsky version. I actually like it much more.

[Xhennet]

beautiful this start music.

[thefrontline23]

this was joseph stalins favourite opera

figures

[2calziniealtri2]

tHE INTODUCTION OF THIS OPERA IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COMPOSITION OF THE WORLD.

IT' MAKES ME DREAM A SNOW STORM...

[kiskte]

I am a rock fan, but I love this opera. Thanks for posting it. Greetings from Hungary.

[Maestoso14]

This is superb ! I saw this opera at the MET in New York which of course is a rather different experience but it was a mostly Russian cast with the exception of SAM RAMEY as BORIS and a few of the more minor roles.

[archijerej]

Thank you so much!

[milenako]

I don't know how many times I have watched this whole opera. I can't wait to watch it again live in July again, under A.Sokurov's direction, with the Bolshoi Theatre Opera. Thanks a lot for the post!

[Zeniyama]

Thank you so much, Mussorgsky's my favourite composer.

[OnlyBallet]

Thank you very much for this!

[RADAMES1983]

:))