BORIS GODUNOV - Nesterenko, Arkhipova - Bolshoi, 1978, English subtitles, Годунов, Большой

This epic opera based on Pushkin’s play is notoriously difficult to stage in the West. Powerful music is inseparable from as powerful classic Russian, language carrying the same load as notes. This version from Bolshoi may be the best forging of the two existing on video, and Godunov of Nesterenko is one of the starkest ’Pushkin magnitude’ interpretations of the role. Timing below. Boris Godunov - EVGENY NESTERENKO Grigory Otrepyev (False Dimitrii) - VLADISLAV PIAVKO Marina Mnishek - IRINA ARKHIPOVA Pimen - VALERY YAROSLAVTSEV Prince Shuiskii - ANDREY SOKOLOV Innkeeper - LARISA NIKITINA Tsarevich Fyodor - GLAFIRA KOROLEVA Tsarevna Xenia - GALINA KALININA Nurse - NINA GRIGORIEVA Father Varlaam - ARTUR EIZEN The Holy Fool - ALEXEY MASLENNIKOV Music: Modest Mussorgsky Conductor -BORIS HAIKIN Director - LEONID BARATOV 15:05 - The Coronation Scene (Red Square; Godunov, boyars, chorus - Сцена коронации) 19:22 - My soul is sad... (Monolo