Boris Godunov

Boris Khaikin, The Bolshoi Opera Chorus and Orchestra - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2005/1978)

Boris Khaikin, The Bolshoi Opera Chorus and Orchestra - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2005/1978)
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) | Русский (Dolby AC3, 2 ch) | 7.10 Gb (DVD9) | 175 min
Classical | Kultur | Sub.: English

Universally acknowledged as the greatest of all Russian operas, this is a faithful and often dazzling production of the standard Rimsky-Korsakov version taped ³live² at the Bolshoi in 1978. As Boris, the renowned Yevgeni Nesterenko is as justifiably identified with the role in his generation as Chaliapin, London and Kipness were in theirs. Nesterenko gives a remarkably vivid, human portrait of the tormented half-crazed Tsar, and is supported by a first rate ensemble in a richly designed and costumed production that represents opera at its grandest.
Boris Christoff, Nicolai Gedda, Kim Borg, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise  - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2024)

Boris Christoff, Nicolai Gedda, Kim Borg, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2024)
FLAC (tracks), Lossless / MP3 320 kbps | 2:58:07 | 412 / 376 Mb
Genre: Classical

Boris Christoff was a Bulgarian operatic bass of the 20th century who specialized in roles from Verdi and Mussorgsky. He was also active as a recitalist and made several recordings of songs by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, and other Romantic era composers. He was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in 1914. His mother was Russian, and his father was a Bulgarian teacher who also sang at a nearby church. Christoff began singing when he was very young, and he sang in the choir at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. Although his musical talents were already apparent, he decided to study law at Sofia University. After he finished his schooling in the late 1930s, he worked as a magistrate, and he sang in the Gusla Chorus.
Kent Nagano, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Sergei Skorokhodov, Maxim Paster - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (1869 Version) [Live]

Kent Nagano, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Sergei Skorokhodov, Maxim Paster - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (1869 Version) [Live] (2019)
WEB FLAC (tracks) - 457 MB | Tracks: 34 | 124:56 min
Style: Classical | Label: BIS

Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov stands out among the major works of the opera repertoire in having an extremely complex creative history. The original libretto, by the composer himself, was based closely on Pushkin’s Shakespeare-inspired drama about the ill-fated Russian ruler. Mussorgsky completed the score in 1869, and submitted it to the committees of the Imperial Theatres. It was rejected, however, primarily because of the lack of a female lead and therefore a love interest, but Mussorgsky’s unadorned style has also been mentioned as a reason.
Kent Nagano - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (1869 Version) [Live] (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Kent Nagano, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Sergei Skorokhodov, Maxim Paster - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (1869 Version) [Live] (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 124:56 minutes | 2.02 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital Booklet

Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov stands out among the major works of the opera repertoire in having an extremely complex creative history. The original libretto, by the composer himself, was based closely on Pushkin’s Shakespeare-inspired drama about the ill-fated Russian ruler. Mussorgsky completed the score in 1869, and submitted it to the committees of the Imperial Theatres.
National Theatre Belgrade: Seven Great Russian Operas from 1955 - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2019)

National Theatre Belgrade: Seven Great Russian Operas from 1955 - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2019)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 706 Mb | Total time: 63:49+46:22+60:48 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Profil Medien | # PH19040 | Recorded: 1955

This Edition presents the “Magnificent Seven” and the “encore” in optimum technical quality. In the mid-Fifties of the last century, with the Cold War freezing relations between East and West, the English record label Decca decided to record a series of Russian operas with the Belgrade National Opera. Belgrade in the Yugoslavia of those days under Josip Tito was more open to “the West” than the Warsaw Pact countries gathered under the wing of the Soviet Union. The deal had been struck by former Decca manager and successful promoter of east European folklore in the USA, record executive Gerald Severn.
Claudio Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (1994)

Claudio Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (1994)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 780 Mb | Total time: 67:49+76:47+56:06 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Sony Classical ‎| # S3K 58 977 | Recorded: 1993

Claudio Abbado uses Mussorgsky's text in a condition almost as complete as Mstislav Rostropovich's but avoiding some overlap from variant readings. He brings to his conducting the same vitality and scrupulous attention to small details that are familiar from his work in Italian opera. His cast is good throughout and particularly strong in the leading roles. This is a Boris to live with, one that gets better with repeated hearings.
Alexander Lazarev, Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2006/1987)

Alexander Lazarev, Chorus and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2006/1987)
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) | Русский (Dolby AC3, 2 ch) | 7.68 Gb (DVD9) | 170 min
Classical | NVC Arts | Sub.: English, Deutsch, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Portugues, Japanese

Boris Godunov is the quintessential Russian opera and brings to the stage one of the most curious episodes in the history of 16th-century Russia. After Mussorgsky's death in 1881, the work was revised by Rimsky-Korsakov whose version is sung in this performance.
Mstislav Rostropovich, National Symphony Orchestra - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (excerpts) (1991)

Mstislav Rostropovich, National Symphony Orchestra - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (excerpts) (1991)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 282 Mb | Total time: 65:32 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Erato| 2292-45467-2 | Recorded: 1987

Boris Godunov is a work that, with its long, continuous scenes and monumental structure, does not lend itself easily to a highlights disc, especially if the intention is to give a fair cross-section of the opera. The producers of this compilation, drawn from a complete recording originally issued by Erato, wisely concentrate the choice on a few substantial chunks, covering most of Boris’s part. To this they add a couple of snippets that can stand on their own, out of context.
Valery Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra, Robert Lloyd, Olga Borodina - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2002/1990)

Valery Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra, Robert Lloyd, Olga Borodina - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2002/1990)
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) | Русский (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | 7.22 Gb+6.67 Gb (2xDVD9) | 210 min
Classical | Philips | Sub: English, Francais, Deutsch, Italiano, Espanol, Chinese

Modest Mussorgsky's opera in prologue and four acts is performed by the Kirov Opera with performances from Olga Borodina, Alexei Steblianko and Sergei Leiferkust. Boris Godunov has obtained the throne of Russia by murdering the rightful heir Dmitry. An old monk, Pimen, witnessed this, and convinces his apprentice Grigory to avenge Dmitry's death. In the following years Grigory poses as Dmitry, raising an army against Boris, who is now convinced that he is being punished for the murder.
Gianandrea Noseda, Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio, Orlin Anastassov - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2011) [BDRip]

Gianandrea Noseda, Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Regio, Orlin Anastassov - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (2011) [BDRip]
BluRay-rip | AVC | MKV 1920x1080 / 6215 kbps / 29,97 fps | 147 min | 7,95 Gb
Audio: Русский / DTS / 6ch / 48.0 KHz / 24 bits
Classical | Opus Arte | Sub: English, French, German, Spanish

Boris Godunov is the story not only of a troubled leader but of an entire nation, and its history is as eventful as that of Mother Russia herself. In this new production, the legendary director Andrei Konchalovsky presents a personal vision of the opera that takes Mussorgsky’s bare and monumental first version as its basis, while adding the final scene from the composer’s revision, in which not only the Tsar but the people themselves reveal their fatal flaws.