Boris Godunov is a tragic opera in a prologue and four acts by the Russian composer Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (see Mussorgsky, Modest ). The opera’s libretto (text), written in Russian by the composer, is based mainly on a Russian play written in 1825 by the Russian author Alexander Pushkin (see Pushkin, Alexander ). Mussorgsky made two versions of Boris Godunov, adding some scenes and dropping others for the second version. The opera received its first complete performance, after many extensive revisions, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 8, 1874.
The opera is set in Russia and Poland during the period from 1598 to 1605 and concerns Russian historical figures. Boris Godunov, an adviser to the czar, has Dmitry, the czar’s young heir, murdered. After the czar dies, Boris takes the throne. But in time, his feelings of guilt cause him to have visions of the murdered Dmitry, and he finally collapses and dies. For many opera lovers, the “hero” of Boris Godunov is the Russian people, portrayed by the chorus. The chorus takes part in many scenes, including an impressive coronation.
Many musicians in Mussorgsky’s time considered the music for Boris Godunov too harsh and crude. After Mussorgsky’s death, the orchestration for the opera was revised by his friend and fellow Russian composer, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (see Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai ). Other composers also made versions of Boris Godunov during the 1900’s. Rimsky-Korsakov’s version is usually performed today.
