MUSSORGSKY,M.: Boris Godunov (Bolshoi) (3CD)

MODEST MUSSORGSKY (1839-1881)

BORIS GODUNOV - Opera in 4 Acts with a Prologue

Libretto by the composer after the Tragedy by Alexander Pushkin
Version and orchestration by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Boris Godunov – Ivan Petrov
Feodor – Valentina Klepatskaya
Xenia – Tamara Sorokina
Nurse to Xenia – Yevgeniya Verbitskaya
Prince Vasily Ivanovich Shuisky – Georgy Shulpin
Andrey Schelkalov – Alexey Ivanov
Pimen – Mark Reshetin
Grigory, the Pretender – Vladimir Ivanovsky
Marina Mnishek – Irina Arkhipova


CD 1:

PROLOGUE / Scene 1
1. Introduction. Andante
2. Well then, what’s wrong with you?
3. Who are you abandoning us to?
4. Who are you abandoning us to?-2
5. Orthodox folk! The boyar is implacable!
6. Glory to Thee, Creator in high

Scene 2
7. Introduction. Andantino alla Marcia
8. Long live Tsar Boris Feodorovich!
9. My soul is sad
10. Glory! Glory! Glory!

ACT I / Scene 1
11. Just one more final story
12. Oh Lord, strong and righteous
13. Do not complain, brother
14. They are ringing for matins
15. Boris, Boris! Everything trembles before you

Scene 2
16. Introduction. Allegro con brio
17. Innkeeper’s Song: I caught a grey drake
18. Give me some fun
19. Why have you fallen into thought, comrade?
20. Varlaam’s Song: Here’s what happened at the town of Kazan
21. Why don’t you sing along?
22. We are humble elders, honest monks
23. What are you staring at me like that for?
24. And his aage…and his aage…



CD 2:

ACT 2
1. Where are you, my betrothed?
2. Oh, that’s enough, princess, my dear!
3. Song of the gnat: A gnat was chopping wood
4. Clapping Song: My little tale is about this and that
5. What’s the matter? Has a wild beast surprised a sitting hen?
6. Boris’s recitative and aria: I have achieved absolute power
7. What have you come for?
8. Ah, it’s you, glorious orator
9. In Uglich, in the cathedral, in front of all the people
10. The chiming clock: Phew! I feel terrible! Let me catch my breath…

ACT 3 / Scene 1
11. Chorus of young girls from Sandomir: By the sky-blue waters of the Vistula
12. Enough! The beautiful lady is greatful
13. Marina’s Aria: Marina is bored. Oh, how bored!
14. Ah! Oh, it’s you, my father!
15. With tender, ardent words of love
16. What? You impudeny liar

Scene 2
17. At midnight…in the garden…by the fountain
18. Polonaise with chorus: I do not believe in your passion, sir
19. Dimitri! Tsarevich!
20. Duet: Oh, Tsarevich, I beg you



CD 3:

ACT 4 / Scene 1
1. Introduction. Moderato
2. What, is mass finished already?
3. Iron cap!
4. Out father and benefactor
5. A-ah!... Boris

Scene 2
6. Introduction. Moderato
7. Well then? Let’s go and vote, boyars
8. What a pity that prince Shuisky isn’t here
9. He was whispering “Go away, go away”
10. Pimen’s narrative: A humble monk
11. The Tsarevich – quickly!
12. Farewell, my son, I am dying…
13. A bell! A knell!

Scene 3
14. Introduction. Allegro
15. Bring him over here!
16. It’s nit a falcon flying in the heavens
17. The sun and moon have grown dark
18. Hurrah! Casting off the chains of bondage
19. Domine, Domine, salvum fac
20. Glory to you, Tsarevich
21. Glory to you, Tsarevich
22. We, Dimitri Ivanovich
23. Flow, flow, bitter tears!


Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR

Recorded in Moscow, 1962.