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 signed B. L. D. in Musical America

Second 'Boris Godunoff'

Feodor Chaliapin, impersonating Boris Godunoff, attracted a crowded auditory to the season's second performance of Moussorgsky's music-drama on Dec. 2. The great singing actor has so identified himself with this role that there are many who feel that this opera without Chaliapin is like "Hamlet" without the Prince of Denmark. The vitality of his reading implants such a profound impression that his moments on the stage are apt to dominate other recollections of the score.

Powerfully dramatic as his presence was on this occasion, there are other memories that linger. One is haunted by the beauty of the music in the wintry forest scene, so deeply imbued with national characteristics; by the spirited polonaise and the lyric loveliness of the duet in the garden scene, and by the simplicity of the folk-music in the scene where the imperial children are at play. The cast also included Edward Johnson as Dimitri and Jeanne Gordon as Marina. The remaining roles were taken by Raymonde Delaunois, Grace Anthony, Kathleen Howard, Henriette Wakefield and Messrs. Bada, Tibbett, Mardones, Ananian, Altglass, Paltrinieri, Gustafson, Gabor and Reschiglian. Gennaro Papi conducted.

Search by season: 1925-26

Search by title: Boris Godunov,

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