Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov - Bavarian State Opera (2013) [Blu-ray]

Opera in four parts and seven scenes, First version (1868/1869) Libretto: Modest Mussorgsky after Alexander Pushkin & Nikolai Karamsins

Child murder, scheming monks and a Tsar lapsing into madness – Modest Mussorgsky spread the thematic arc wide in his choral opera, which he began to work on from 1868, and with which he attempted to awaken an awareness of his own time through the indirect route of a historic story.

As an artist of the 19th century, he was driven by the psychology of the masses. Thus, in 'Boris Godunov', alongside the hero of the title, the main role is actually taken primarily by the Russian people, rejoicing, starving, demanding and questioning.

In conjuction with conductor Kent Nagano, Spanish stage director Calixto Bieito proposes an original reading of this brilliant work. The cast is led by Alexander Tsymbalyuk (Boris), with associates Gerhard Siegel (Schuisky), Markus Eiche (Chelkalov) and Anatoli Kotscherga (Pimen).