MUSSORGSKY: BORIS GODUNOV - BOLSHOI THEATER, MARK ERMLER (3 CDS)

Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky: complete)

Evgeni Nesterenko
Yelena Obratsova
Vladimir Atlantov
Yuri Mazurok
Alexandr Ognivcev
Choir and Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre
conductor Mark Ermler

“A superbly authentic Boris at a near-irresistible price: The old Bolshoi style was irresistible: huge choruses on stage, dozens of extras – and great personalities. In this 1982 Boris Godunov (re-mastered 1992, 2012), the voices are well forward…but one senses a performance tradition, a way of declaiming the text that would be impossible for non-Russian singers….On stage it must have been overwhelming. Ognivtsiev as Pimen …sings with beauty and subtlety, Atlantov, is …melodramatic (but) the voice is magnificent, as always. Obraztsova is regal and forceful, and relentlessly loud in her dealings with Atlantov. Mazurok is a superbly wily Rangoni. Conductor Mark Ermler displays all the necessary understanding of the opera. The edition used is now seldom heard but (formerly) the one most often used on both sides of the Iron Curtain. At its super-budget price, this 1982 set is an easy recommendation” (Gramophone)

CD One [61:22]
Prologue – Scene One
1. Nu, shtozh vy? 6.31
2. Pravoslávnyye! nye umolin boyárin! 3.10
3. Sláva tebyé, tvorstu vsevýshnemnu, 2.59

Prologue – Scene Two

4. Da zdrávstvuet tsar Boris Feódorovich! 4.46
5. Skorbít dusha! 4.15

Act One – Scene One

6. Yeshchó odnó poslyédneye skazánye 4.52
7. Bózhe krépky, právy 5.16
8. Nye syétuy, brat 4.17
9. Davnó, chestnóy, otyéts 5.00

Act One – Scene Two

10. Poymála ya siza seleznyá 5.40
11. Kak vo górode býlo vo Kazáne 7.06
12. Vy shto za lyúdi? 7.24

CD Two [49:14]
Act Two

1. Gdye ty, zhenikh moy 5.28
2. Skázochka pro to i pro syo 1.32
3. Chevó? Al lyúty zvyer 1.30
4. A ty, moy syn 1.54
5. Dostig ya výshey vlásti 4.49
6. Ay, kysh! 4.53
7. Velíky gosudár, chelóm byu 7.20
8. Uf! tyazheló! 3.48

Act Three – Scene One

9. Na Víslye lazúrnoy, 4.42
10. Skúchno Marínye 3.30
11. Akh, éto ty, moy otyéts 9.42

CD Three [79:06]
Act Three – Scene Two

1. V pólnoch……….v sadú…u fontána 3.01
2. Tsaryévich! 6.48
3. Polonaise (orchestra)… Váshey strásti
ya nye vyéryu 3.48
4. Iezuit lukávy 2.22
5. Dimítry! tsaryévich Dimítry! 11.26

Act Four – Scene One

6. Chto, otosha ovyednya 4.17
7. Trrr, trrr, trrr, trrr 8.08

Act Four – Scene Two

8. Shtozh? poydóm na golosá 5.56
9. Ya sózval vas, boyáre 1.57
10. Smiryénny ínok 4.35
11. Oy; dúshno! dúshno! 5.41
12. Zvon! Pogrebálny zvon! 4.01

Act Four – Scene Three

13. Valí syudá! 4.41
14. Sólntse, luná pomyérknuli 3.40
15. Domine, domine, salvum fac 4.13
16. My, Dimítriy Ivánovich 4.24