"Boris Godunov" was destined to become the most popular Russian opera in the West, expressing the spirit of the Russian people and their “mysterious soul”. This outstanding work of opera art, among other things, got wonderful promoters in the face of entertaining genius Sergei Diaghilev and Fedor Chaliapin, an unsurpassed performer of the title part.

The Bolshoi Theater presents "Boris Godunov" composed by renowned Rimsky-Korsakov. However, the opera has the scene "At Basil the Blessed" with the orchestration by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov added. It was first time performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1927.

The opera "Boris Godunov" premiered at the Bolshoi Theater back in 1888. For some reason, it quickly got off the stage. The second time this opera appeared in the repertoire of the Bolshoi in 1901. That remarkable event was associated with Fyodor Chaliapin, the unbeatable Boris Godunov performer, joining the troupe. Famous tenor Leonid Sobinov sang the part of the Pretender in that version.

“Boris Godunov” performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre nowadays is even more symbolic. The stage version by Leonid Baratov is famous as the paragon of the Soviet “grand style”. This performance of myth is vividly distinguished from everything that the modern Western opera world has in its repertoire.
It emphasizes the identity of the Bolshoi Theatre and demonstrates the stylistic traditions preserved at the theater. “Guarded with its solid age, fascinating with its monumental ornamentality and surrounded with legends, Boris Godunov of the Bolshoi Theater is now perceived as an opera – myth”, - art critic Irina Kotkina emphasizes.

A significant event in the life of the Bolshoi Theater’s opera Boris Godunov was its tour to the the Svyatogorsky Monastery in July 2002, during the celebration of the 1100^th anniversary since the foundation of the ancient Russian city of Pskov.

Libretto by Modest Mussorgsky based on the same-name drama by Alexander Pushkin;

Editorial and orchestration by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov;
Orchestrations of the scene "At St. Basil's" by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov;
Conductor - Nikolai Golovanov;
Stage director - Leonid Baratov;
Set Designer - Fedor Fedorovsky;
The scenery renovation artist - Nonna Fedorovskaya;
Choreographer - Leonid Lavrovsky.
The premiere of the present-day version of Boris Godunov opera took place on December 16, 1948.
The stage production lasts for 4 hours and 20 minutes with three intermissions included.

When: September 13 and 14, 2018

Where: The Historical Stage of the Bolshoi Theater at the address 1, Theater Square, next to metro station Okhotny ryad, Moscow.