Metropolitan Opera Archives

Orchestration by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Translation by M.Delines, E. Palermi, G. Pardo
Synopsis of Scenes
Act I, Scene 1: The wall of Novodievitchi Convent, in the Great Environs of Moscow
Act I, Scene 2: A cell in the Convent of Miracles
Act I, Scene 3: The square between the two Cathedrals of the Assumption and of the Archangels
Act II, Scene 1: An inn on the frontier of Lithuania
Act II, Scene 2: Apartments of the Czar in the Kremlin at Moscow
Act II, Scene 3: Garden of the Castle of Michek
Act III, Scene 1: The forest of Kromy
Act III, Scene 2: Hall of the Duma in the Kremlin
Chaliapin always sang Boris in Russian.

Review 1:

Review of Oscar Thompson in Musical America

Chaliapin's Final Boris

Feoder Chaliapin's fifth and final "Boris Godounoff" at the Metropolitan at a special matinee on Thursday resulted in a succession of ovations, though the big bass did not sing quite as well as at earlier appearances, avoiding some of the higher tones in the music of the Apartment scene. At the conclusion of the opera, he addressed the audience in French, after apologizing for his scant command of English, and expressed his gratitude for America's kindness to him and for the aid which the people of the United States are extending his suffering countrymen in Russia. The cast included Jeanne Gordon, Aureliano Pertile, Jose Mardones, Paola Ananian, Angelo Bada, and others who have appeared in their rôles many times. Mr. Papi conducted. Surely the""Boris" score will be entrusted to some other orchestral leader when Chaliapin returns next season!

Search by season: 1921-22

Search by title: Boris Godunov,

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