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"Boris Godunov""Boris Godunov" is an opera based loosely on the life of a late 16th-century Russian ruler, or tsar, of the same name. Modest Mussorgsky, the opera's composer, drew inspiration from a drama written by Aleksandr Pushkin about Godunov. Mussorgsky also used a book, History of the Russian State, by Nikolay Karamzin, for information.
Mussorgsky composed an original version of the "Boris Godunov" opera, completed in 1869, but he couldn't get it approved for production. This was probably due to the fact that the opera was very unusual in its music and plot. He went back to work and in 1872 presented his revised version, which did receive approval for production. It was performed for the first time in 1874.
The Story of "Boris Godunov:" The PrologueThe opera's prologue begins in the courtyard of a monastery outside Moscow in the year 1598. Russia has no ruler at this time. A group of common people have been forced into the monastery courtyard. Their captors order them to beg Boris to become tsar. He pretends to be reluctant but orders them to meet him the following day in the Kremlin.
In the second scene, Boris agrees to assume the role of tsar and is crowned. Prince Shuisky, other nobles and the commoners then praise him. Boris expresses his feelings of impending doom and prays for God to bless him and his tsarship.
"Boris Godunov" First ActThe first act of "Boris Godunov" begins about five years after the prologue. An elderly monk named Pimen is putting the finishing touches on a written history of Russia. His young cellmate, Grigory, probes him for information about Pimen's life as a soldier for Ivan the Terrible in his youth. In particular, he wants more details about Tsarevich Dimitri's death. Tsarevich Dimitri died as a child. He would have been about Grigory's age if he had lived. Pimen tells Grigory that Boris Godunov ordered Dimitri's death, and Grigory foretells God's vengeance on Boris.
In scene two, three monks, Varlaam, Missail and Grigory, have run away from the monastery and arrive at an inn in Lithuania. Grigory asks the innkeeper's wife about getting across the border to Lithuania. She gives him an alternative route to try. Just then, police come looking for Grigory. They cannot read their own warrant, so Grigory offers to read it for them, substituting a description of Varlaam for himself. The police circle around Varlaam, but he grabs the warrant and sounds out the true description of Grigory. Grigory jumps out of a window and escapes.
"Boris Godunov" Second ActThe second act of "Boris Godunov" opens on Xenia, the tsar's daughter, mourning the death of her fiancé. Boris arrives and she leaves. Feodor, her brother, shows Boris his map of Russia. Boris urges him to keep studying. Meanwhile, Boris reflects sadly on the starvation and upheaval in Russia, as well as the fact that his subjects curse his name. Also, a vision of Dimitri haunts Boris.
Prince Shuisky asks to see the tsar. Boris warns Feodor to look out for Shuisky as he isn't trustworthy. Shuisky brings the news that someone claiming to be Tsarevich Dimitri has appeared in Lithuania. Boris sends his son away and asks Shuisky if he is sure that Dimitri was really killed as a child. Shuisky reassures him that he saw the body. Boris dismisses the prince and then pleads with God for mercy.
"Boris Godunov" Third ActAct three of the opera reveals Marina dressing with her handmaidens in the castle of Sandomir. Marina dismisses their admiration and tells them all she really cares about is power and fame, which she has hopes of finding when she takes the throne of Russia with the pretend Dimitri. A Jesuit priest named Rangoni visits her, urging her to convert all Russians to Catholicism when she becomes tsarina. His attitude angers Marina, but Rangoni scares her into submission when he threatens her with hell.
Dimitri waits for Marina in the castle's garden, but Rangoni gets to him first to urge Dimitri to confess his love for Marina. When Marina arrives, Dimitri does so; however, she lets him know that she's only interested in the love of a tsar. Dimitri is therefore motivated to go after the throne of Russia, and Rangoni, who watches the entire interaction, rejoices.
"Boris Godunov" Fourth ActAct four of "Boris Godunov" begins in the Duma, which is the House of Lords in Russia's parliament. They have assembled to discuss the problem of the pretender. Summoning Shuisky, the nobles question him and ask why he is now a rebel. Shuisky says it's all lies and describes Boris, haunted by the spirit of the real Dimitri, shouting, "Be gone, child!" Boris comes in screaming that exact phrase. Before he can talk to the nobles, Pimen comes in and describes to the tsar how the spirit of Dimitri healed a shepherd of blindness.
Boris, deciding that his end is near, calls for sackcloth to wear and for his son to come. He makes the nobles leave for a few minutes while he gives Feodor some final instructions. When they return, Boris shows them his son and dies.
"Boris Godunov" EndingIn the opera's final scene, a group of homeless men in a forest clearing harass one of the nobles loyal to Boris. A village idiot enters, as well as a group of boys who are tormenting him. Varlaam and Missail, traveling from Moscow, come upon the scene, declaring that all of Russia's troubles are Boris' fault. Dimitri appears, and his ragtag crew of followers declares him tsar. They prepare to march on Moscow to take the throne.
After they leave, only the simpleton is left. He expresses grief over Russia's future and the famine her people still face.
Reception of "Boris Godunov""Boris Godunov" is Mussorgsky's only finished opera. Many critics consider it his best work. At the time of its premiere, however, most critics were extremely hostile.
The opera is unique in its dependence on Russian folk music for its base. Because Mussorgsky disdained the German and Italian tradition when he wrote "Boris Godunov," the entire opera contains a strong Russian flavor. As a result of this departure from convention, reviewers were uncertain how to rate "Boris Godunov." Today, however, many consider "Boris Godunov" the supreme example of Russian opera. Resources Jones, Alison (2006). Alison Jones’s Opera Plot Summaries. Retrieved December 12, 2007 from the Opera~Opera Web site: http://www.opera-opera.com.au/plotm.htm. Maxpedia.org (2007). Boris Godunov (opera). Retrieved December 13, 2007 from the Maxpedia Web site: http://maxpedia.org/cgi-bin/mp/m.ps?la=en&sw=Boris+
Godunov+(opera).
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Last modified: February 04, 2008 © morefocus group, inc.
Last modified: February 04, 2008 © morefocus group, inc.