BOLSHOI presents Modest Mussorgsky — Boris Godunov vol.4

Description: Modest Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov vol. 04 — DVD, 2004 — Year recorded: 1978 by the Russian State Academic Bolshoi Theater Quoted from the insert: "There have been no fewer than four main versions of "Boris Godunov," two by Mussorgsky and two by Rimsky-Korsakov, quite apart from various more recent attempts to prepare stage performances. PROLOGUE Russia and Poland, 1598. In 1591, the Boyar Boris Godunov gave orders to have Dimitri, heir to the Russian throne, murdered. Fyodor, Godunov's weak son, is made Tsar and his father becomes his regent. Upon Fyodor's death, Godunov is sought out at his monastery retreat and implored to take the crown. Despite his feelings of guilt, Godunov relents, and is inaugurated as the new Tsar of Russia. Amidst cheering crowds, the great bells of Moscow herald Godunov's coronation. As the procession leaves the cathedral, the new Tsar appears in triumph. Haunted by a strange foreboding, Godunov prays for God's blessing. Addressing his people, he invites them all to the feast, as the crowd resumes rejoicing. ACT I Pimen, the monk, finishes chronicling the history of Russia. Young Grigory, a novice, awakes and describes a nightmare to Pimen, in which he climbed a lofty tower and viewed a swarming multitude of Moscovites below, who mocked him until he stumbled and fell. Pimen advises Grigory to fast and pray to attain peace of mind, and compares the quiet solitude of the cloister to the outside world of sin and idle pleasure. Grigory questions Pimen about the dead Tsarevich Dimitri, legal heir to the Russian throne. Pimen recounts how Godunov ordered the boy's murder. Left alone, Grigory condemns Godunov and his crime, and decides to leave the cloister. Three guests interrupt the innkeeper's ballad: two drunken vagabonds (Varlaam and Missail) and the disguised Grigory, who is being pursued by the police for escaping from the monastery. Now considering it his mission to expose Godunov, Grigory calls himself the Pretender Dimitri. He attempts to reach Lithuania, where he plans to assemble forces to help him claim the Russian throne. Varlaam passes the time with a song about the siege of Kazan, and dozes off. The innkeeper tells them that the road is blocked by sentries, whereupon one enters with a warrant for Grigory's arrest. Since the police officer cannot read, Grigory pretends to read the warrant for him, describing Varlaam rather than himself. But when Varlaam reads the true description, Grigory leaps through a window and has to escape to Lithuania. ACT II Godunov's daughter Xenia laments the death of her betrothed and is comforted by her nurse. Godunov enters. Studying a map of Russia, he tells Fyodor, his son, that one day he will rule. Left alone, he ponders the fears that haunt his dreams. Fyodor interrupts his torment and is sent away. A Boyar announces the arrival of Prince Shuisky, who has come from Poland with word of a Pretender to the Russian throne, supported by the Polish aristocracy and the Pope. When Godunov is told the Pretender claims to be Dimitri, the Tsarevich whom Godunov ordered killed at Uglich, he asks how a buried child can march on the Tsar. He promises to forgive Shuisky, whom he loathes and distrusts, all his former acts of treason if he will answer truthfully whether or not the real Dimitri was indeed murdered. Assuring the Tsar that he was, the wily Shuisky is dismissed. The clock begins to strike as Godunov gives way to his terror, imagining that he sees Dimitri's ghost. Stricken with remorse, he begs God's forgiveness for his crime...." Four Acts total.

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End Time: 2024-12-28T21:11:37.000Z

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