By Prague National Theatre
One of the most celebrated historical operas of all time bears the name of a prominent Russian Tsar
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Michail Kazakov (Boris Godunov), Sylva Čmugrová (Fjodor)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Even though one of the most celebrated historical operas of all time bears the name of a prominent Russian Tsar, Boris Godunov is not the one and only lead character in Mussorgsky’s fresco. Similarly to A. S. Pushkin’s eponymous drama, the opera is a Shakespearean, multivalent and multilayered study of human society on the threshold of a crisis – a crisis of authority, traditions and law, a crisis of morals.
Michail Kazakov (Boris Godunov)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Pushkin ironically referred to his play as “a comedy about the real misery of the Moscow state, about Tsar Boris and Grishka Otrepyev”. Yet it is a comedy that chills. Following the death of the last Rurik dynasty members Ivan the Terrible and his sons Fyodor and little Dimitry, the Russian throne is vacated.
Vitalij Jefanov (Boris Godunov)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Po smrti posledních Rurikovců, Ivana Hrozného a jeho synů Fjodora a malého Dimitrije, je ruský trůn prázdný.
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
At the time when there is no heir apparent, legitimate is the one who does the most to make himself legitimate and knows that the ends justify the means.
Aleš Voráček (Misail), Andrea Kalivodová (Waitress)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Who will win over the ignorant common people believing in tall stories?
Kateřina Jalovcová (Fjodor), Yvona Škvárová (The Nanny), Marie Fajtová (Xenia)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Who will better cope with the mean tricks of the Boyars participating in the country’s administration?
Vitalij Jefanov (Boris Godunov) and Kateřina Jalovcová (Fjodor)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Vitalij Jefanov (Boris Godunov), Tomáš Kořínek (Jurodivý)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Michail Kazakov (Boris Godunov)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Who will be able to resist the pangs of conscience in himself?
Vitalij Jefanov (Boris Godunov)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Welcome to the time of Griskhas, the time of self-appointed usurpers.
Michail Kazakov (Boris Godunov)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Tomáš Černý (Lžidimitrij), Luděk Vele (Varlam), Aleš Voráček (Misail), Lucie Hilscherová (waitress)
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Boris Godunov, National Theatre Opera (2015/2015) by Modest Petrovič MusorgskijPrague National Theatre
Michail Kazakov (Boris Godunov)
Musical preparation: Petr Kofroň
Conductor: Petr Kofroň, Jan Chalupecký
Stage director: Linda Keprtová
Sets: Jan Štěpánek
Costumes: Eva Jiřikovská
Chorus master: Pavel Vaněk, Lukáš Vasilek, Jiří Chvála
Dramaturgy: Ondřej Hučín
Motion cooperation: Marcela Benoni
Duration: 3 hours and 15 minutes. One intermission.
The opera are Czech and English subtitles.
