Overview
Synopsis
Mussorgsky’s vast opera Boris Godunov is centered on the historical figure who was tsar of Russia in the late 16th century, the mysteries surrounding his rise to the throne, and the uprising of the man who claimed to be Dmitry, the true heir to the throne.
Responsible for ordering the assassination of the family of the previous tsar, Boris Godunov is next in-line for the throne. For a decade he reigns over Russia, troubled by the knowledge of his unjust ascension, but believing that he has done the right thing for his family. When a young monk in a monastery learns of Boris’s crime, he decides to try and take the throne for himself. He claims to be Dmitry, the young heir to the throne that was murdered all those years ago, and draws armies from all the surrounding lands to help him return to the throne that was rightfully his.
Meanwhile, Boris’s guilt is plaguing him more and more every day, and he has started to be haunted by the child that he murdered. The news that this child has now risen from the grave to claim his birthright, and that he has armies supporting his campaign, is just too much for Boris. A visit from the elderly monk who knows the truth about Boris’s crime seals his fate: Boris suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving the throne to the imposter.
Alongside Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov is one of the world’s favorite Russian operas.
Show Information
- Music
- Modest Mussorgsky
- Libretto
- Modest Mussorgsky
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Boris Godunov by Pushkin
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 4
- First Produced
- 1869
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 17th century, Russia
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Mostly Male Cast, Professional Opera, Includes Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Child, Early Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
Boris Godunov is an opera steeped in Russian history. Originally inspired at the suggestion of historian V. V. Nikolsky, Mussorgsky used Pushkin’s 1825 drama of the same name as the starting point, returning to Pushkin’s source text Karamzin’s History of the Russian State for more detail. The story is centered on the reign of Boris Godunov, who was tsar of Russia in the late 16th century, and rose to the throne in unusual circumstances.
Under the rule of Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov
to read the context for Boris Godunov and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Authors Note: This opera has been subject to many revisions and scenes have been added and removed over its lifetime. Although more recent practice has been to return to the original version of the opera, directors are still able to select any of the scenes available in their preferred combination. All of the scenes from all versions are presented below, with later additions italicised.
Scene One: The Courtyard of the Novodevichy Monastery
The crowds have gathered in the courtyard
to read the plot for Boris Godunov and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
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Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
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Supporting |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano, Countertenor, Treble/Boy Soprano |
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Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
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Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
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Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
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Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
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Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
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Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Bass |
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Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
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Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
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Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
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Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
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Featured |
Male |
Bass |
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Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
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Featured |
Male |
Bass |
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Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Contralto |
Songs
This opera has been subject to many revisions and scenes have been added and removed over its lifetime. Although more recent practice has been to return to the original version of the opera, directors are still able to select any of the scenes available in their preferred combination.
All of the scenes from all versions are presented below, with later additions italicised.
Prologue
Scene One: The Courtyard of the Novodyevichy Monastery
- People's Chorus ‘Ну, что ж вы?’/ ‘Nu, shtozh vy?’ - Constable, Mityukha Chorus
- Shchelkalov's Address ‘Православные! не умолим боярин!’ / ‘Pravoslavnye! nye umolim boyarin!’ - Constable, Mityukha, Shchelkalov, Chorus
- Pilgrim's Chorus ‘Слава тебе’ / ‘Slava tebe’ - Chorus of Blind Pilgrims and People, Mityukha
Scene Two: The Coronation
- Introduction
- People's Chorus ‘Да здраствует царь Борис Фёдорович!’ / ‘Da zdrastvuet tsar' Boris Feodorovich!’ - Prince Shuysky, Chorus
- Entry of Boris ‘Скорбит душа!’ / ‘Skorbit dusha!’ - Boris Feodorovich
- People's Chorus ‘Слава Слава! Слава!’ / ‘Slava! Slava! Slava!’ - Boyars and Chorus
Act One
Scene Three: Pimen’s Cell in the Chudov Monastery
- Pimen's Monologue ‘Ещо одно последнее сказание’ / ‘Yeshcho odno poslyednyeye skazanye’ - Pimen
- Grigory Wakes ‘Боже крепкий, право’ / ‘Bozhe krepki, pravy’ - Hermits, Grigory,
- Grigory's Dream ‘Ты всё писал, и сном не позабылса’ / ‘Ti vsyo pisal, i snom nye pozabylsa’ - Grigory, Pimen
- Boris's Crime ‘Давно, честной отец’ / ‘Davno, chestnoy otyets’ - Pimen
- Boris's Crime ‘Звонят к заутрене’ / ‘Zvonyat k zautrenye’ - Pimen
Scene Four: An Inn at the Lithuanian Border
- Introduction
- Song of the Hostess ‘Поймала я сиза селезнод’ / ‘Poymala ya siza seleznyd’ - Hostess
- Arrival of Varlaam and Missail ‘Жену, мир дому твоему!’ / ‘Zheno, mir domu tvoemu!’ - Missail, Varlaam, Grigory
- Varlaam's Drinking Song ‘Как во городе было во Казанье’ / ‘Kak vo gorode bylo vo Kazane’ - Varlaam, Grigory
- Grigory Questions the Hostess ‘Как едет оон’ / ‘Kak yedet yon’ - Hostess, Grigory, Varlaam
- The Guard's Interrogation ‘Вы што за люди?’ / ‘Vy shto za lyudi?’ - Constable, Varlaam, Missail, Grigory, Hostess
- Grigory's Flight ‘Я грамотно’ / ‘Ya gramotny’ - Grigory, Constable, Varlaam, Missail
Act Two
Scene Five: Inside the Tsar’s Apartments
- Xenia's Lament ‘Где ты, жених мой’ / ‘Gdye ty, zhenikh moy’ - Xenia, Feodor, Nurse
- Song of the Flez ‘Как комар дрова рубил’ / ‘Kak komar drova rubil’- Nurse
- Clapping Game ‘Эх, мама матушка, вот так сказочка!’ / ‘Ekh, mama mamushka, vot tak skazochka!’ - Feodor, Nurse
- Boris Consoles Xenia ‘Чего’ / ‘Chevo?’ - Boris, Feodor, Xenia, Nurse
- Map Scene ‘А ты, мой сын, чем занять?’ / ‘A ty, moy syn, chem zanyat?’ - Boris, Feodor
- Boris's Monologue ‘Достиг я вышей власти’ / ‘Dostig ya vishey vlasti’ - Boris
- Shuysky's Treachery ‘Что такое?’ / ’Chto takoe?’ - Nurse, Boris, Boyar
- Tale of the Parakeet ‘Попинка наш сидел’ / ‘Popinka nash sidyel’ - Boris, Feodor
- Shuysky's Information ‘Великий государь челом бью’ / ‘Veliky gosudar', chelom b’yu’ - Shuysky, Boris, Feodor
- Boris's Fears ‘Слыхал ли ты, когда-нибудь’ / ‘Slikhal li ty, kogda-nibud’ - Boris Shuysky
- Shuysky's Narration ‘В Угличе, в соборе’ / ‘V Ugliche, v soborye’ - Boris, Shuysky
- Clock Scene ‘Уф, тяжело!’ / ‘Uf, tyazhelo!’ - Boris
Act Three
Scene Six: The Room of Maria Mniszek in the Castle of Sandormierz
- Chorus of Girls ‘На Висле лазурной’ / ‘Na Vislye lazurnoy’ - Chorus of Girls, Marina
- Marina's Aria ‘Красотка панна благодарна’ / ‘Krasotka panna blagodarna’ - Marina
- Marina's Aria ‘Скучно Марине’ / ‘Skuchno Marinye’ - Marina
- Duet ‘Ах, это ты, мой отец!’ / ‘Akh, eto ty, moy otyets!’ - Marina, Rangoni
- Duet ‘Красою своею плени самозванца!’ / ‘Krasoyu svoyeyu pleni samozvantsa!’ - Rangoni, Marina
Scene Seven: Before a Fountain in the Garden of the Castle of Sandormierz
- Dmitry's Aria ‘В полночь, в саду, у фонтана…’ / ‘V polnoch', v sadu, u fontana…’ - Dmitry the Imposter (Grigory), Rangoni
- Polonaise ‘Вашей страсти я не верю, пане’ / ‘Vashey strasti ya nye vyeru, panye’ - Marina, Chorus, Dmitry
- ‘Димитрий! Царевич Димитрий!’ / ‘Dimitri! Tsaryevich! Dimitri!’ - Marina, Dmitry
- Duet ‘Тебя, Тебя, одну, Марина’ / ‘Tebya, tebya, odnu, Marina’ - Marina, Dmitry
- Duet ‘О, царевич, умоляю’ / ‘O, tsaryevich, umolyayu’ - Marina, Dmitry, Rangoni
Act Four
Scene Eight: A Square in front of the Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed
- Outside the cathedral 'Что отошла обедня?’ / ‘Chto otoshla obednya?’ - Chorus, Mityukha, Constables
- The Taunting of the Simpleton ‘Трр ...Железные колпак’ / ‘Trr ...Zhelyzny kolpak’ - Boys, Simpleton, Boris, Shuysky
- The Simpleton's Lament ‘Лейтесь, лейтесь, слёзы горькие’ / ‘Lyeytyes', lyeytyes', slyozi gorkiye’
Scene Nine: The Boyar Duma and the Death of Boris
- Shchelkalov’s declaration ‘Сановитые бояре!’ / ‘Sanovityye boyare’ - Shchelkalov
- The Duma of the Boyars 'Что Ж, пойдём на голоса, бояре’ / ‘Shto zh, poydyom na golosa, boyare’ - Boyars
- Shuysky's Evidence and Boris's Denial ‘Жаль, Шуйшково нет князя’ / ‘Zhal', Shuyshkovo nyet knyazya’ - Boyars, Shuysky, Boris
- Pimen's Narration ’Смиренный инок’ / ‘Smirennyy inok’
- Boris's Farewell and Prayer ‘Прощай мой сын, умираю’ / ‘Proshchai moy syn, umirau’ - Boyars, Shuysky, Boris, Feodor
- Funeral Bell and Death of Boris ‘Звон! Погребальный Звон’!’ / ‘Zvon! Pogrebalnyy zvon!’ - Boyars, Shuysky, Boris, Feodor
Scene Ten: The Kromy Forest
- The Capture of Khrushchov ‘Вали сюда!’ / ‘Vali syuda!’ - Khrushchov, Chorus
- Entrance of Varlaam and Missail ‘Солнце, луна померкнули’ / ‘Sontse, luna pomyerknuli’ - Varlaam, Missail, Chorus
- Lewicki and Czernikowski’s prayer ‘Domine, domine, salvum fac’ - Khrushchov, Imposter, Lewicki, Czernikowski, Missail, Varlam, Chorus
- Tsar Dmitry pardons the people ‘Мы, Димитриы Иванович’ / ‘My, Dimitriy Ivanovich’ - Khrushchov, Imposter, Lewicki, Czernikowski, Missail, Varlam, Chorus
- The Simpleton's Lament ‘Лейтесь, лейтесь, слёзы горькие’ / ‘Lyeytyes', lyeytyes', slyozi gorkiye’ - Simpleton
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.