M.Mussorgsky - "Coronation scene" . Mariinsky, Gergiev.

[Timrath]

Wow, I expected this to be really bad, but it is much better than the Korsakov or even the Shostakovich version. I wonder why they considered it necessary to tamper with the original.

[RADAMES1983]

@Timrath I wonder as well....

And all the opera is like that...:)

[TheCantator]

Nicolai Putilin as Boris

[queldryk]

Are the bells a call to dinner on the SS Bremen? (Robert Kraft on hear a performance of Parsifal)

[pvssymaster]

There is one huge glaring costume error in this production: The gentleman wearing the dark blue uniform at the front left is wearing a 19th century uniform that would have been better suited for the Romanov Tzar's than a Tzar during the 1590's. This uniform didn't exist back then.

[RADAMES1983]

:))

Opera (like a thearer) is not a documental cimena...

It's first of all about the music and the drama.

I'm not srtict that you may be, but I love the "historycal" productions as well, much more than 90% of the "modern", which is usually a bulshit...

[BorisGodunov]

That's because the painting being shown is of the crowning of a 19th century Tsar. It is not the scene in the opera.

[Timrath]

@pvssymaster It looks like that because it is precisely that. The image does not depict a scene from the opera, but the coronation of Alexander III in 1883.

[nickcowie]

Who is the Boris?

[vladicigor]

russian tzar

[pvssymaster]

Boris Godunov was a Russian Tzar (as opposed to an Obama Czar) who ruled at the end of the 16th century. He ascended to the throne when the younger and rightful heir mysteriously died. Boris was racked with tremendous guilt over this, having nightmares. He did institute some good policies, but ruled during difficult times. You might say he wasn't godunov to be Tzar.

[BorisGodunov]

Actually, Boris was regent during the reign of Tsar Feodor I and effectively ran the empire from 1584 onwards. Dmitri died in 1591, but he wasn't a "rightful heir" to the throne: as a child of Ivan's seventh wife, the Russian Church viewed him as illegitimate, as only up to the third marriage was recognized.

Boris became Tsar in 1598, upon the death of Feodor. There's no historical evidence that Boris had Dmitri killed, so that is a fiction of the play/opera.

[peddletoneG]

I read that he was suspect at the time, though, and although he didn't lose power, who knows for sure? For sure he had a history of being an operatchik during the pograms of The Terrible Ivan, who brained his equally terrible son while enraged. To Boris' credit, he'd tried to make peace, getting a good twhack as thanks. As to whether he was 'gudenov' to be a czar, as a joker said--for his time, sure. But he has ghosts and visions ogging his back trail for a good reason. He put them there.

[BorisGodunov]

Widespread rumor of Boris having murdered Dmitri didn't gain much traction until later, after crop failures led to widespread famine and general discontent with his reign. It emerged mostly coincidental to the emergence of the False Dmitri.

Boris having "ghosts and visions" is a dramatic fiction of the opera. There's no reason to think this was a problem for the historical Boris.

He was a capable Tsar, but his policies ultimately were disastrous for Russia and led to his downfall.

[nickcowie]

I meant, who is singing boris?

[LilaMillstone]

All right, is this the original version or not?

[RADAMES1983]

Yes. It is an original Mussirgsky version (1872).

[hsoenario]

Thank you! Did you ever attend a performance of a Russian Opera? There is this special quality about Russian singers & artists! End of this year I am expecting 4 male singers from St Petersburg Opera. This will be their third visit and I will organize 4 or 5 concerts for them. They always get standing ovation and last time they gave 3x Vecherniy Zvon encores for me.

Where do you live in Russia and where you study in Israel? You are a lucky man! And a very generous soul for sharing.

[birgitnilsson]

Breathtaking! Personallly, I enjoy this version much more than the original one.And Mariinsky theatre...oh my God...stunningly beautiful!Russia is famous for producing the best basses in the world.

[ludwigvan17]

This is the original version.

[ludwigvan17]

Interesting. His original version is much better.

[birgitnilsson]

I do not agree.

[ludwigvan17]

What is there to disagree about? This is the original version written and orchestrated by Mussorgsky.

[birgitnilsson]

I> couldn´t care less. I prefer the other one. By the way Mussorgsky was rather awkward in orchestrating

[pvssymaster]

Rimsky-Korsakov re-orchestrated the original version you listened to hear, but in doing so changed some of the character of the music. Rimsky-Korsakov was a brilliant orchestrator (and composer), but this version presents a more raw, truly Russian version whereas Rimsky-Korsakov has more of a European classical influence in the orchestration technique. Mussorgsky was a brilliant orchestrator in his own way, now acknowledged in music schools. Certainly, he wrote the greatest Russian opera.