Boris Godunov (Russian: Борис Годунов, Borís Godunóv) is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881). The work was composed between 1868 and 1873 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is Mussorgsky's only completed opera and is considered his masterpiece. Its subjects are the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar (1598 to 1605) during the Time of Troubles, and his nemesis, the False Dmitriy (reigned 1605 to 1606). The Russian-language libretto was written by the composer, and is based on the drama Boris Godunov by Aleksandr Pushkin, and, in the Revised Version of 1872, on Nikolay Karamzin's History of the Russian State.
| Librettist | Modest Mussorgsky (Bsed on the drama "Boris Godunov" by Aleksandr Pushkin) |
| Date of composition | 1869 (October 1868- December 1869. Revised in 1872) |
| Premiered | 1874, January 27th (Mariinsky Theatre) in Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Type | Opera |
| Spoken language | Russian |
| Instruments |
Voice (Baritone)
- Boris Godunov
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Fyodor (or Feodor), Boris's son Voice (Soprano) - Kseniya (or Xenia), Boris's daughter Voice (Contralto) - Kseniya's nurse Voice (Tenor) - Prince Vasiliy Ivanovich Shuysky Voice (Baritone) - Andrey Shchelkalov, Clerk of the Duma Voice (Bass) - Pimen, chronicler-hermit Voice (Tenor) - The Pretender under the name Grigoriy (in training with Pimen) Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Marina Mniszech*, the daughter of the Sandomierz Voyevoda Voice (Bass) - Rangoni,* a covert Jesuit Voice (Bass) - Varlaam, a vagabond Voice (Tenor) - Misail, a vagabond Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - The Innkeeper Voice (Tenor) - The yuródivïy Voice (Bass) - Nikitich, a police officer Voice (Bass) - Mityukha, a peasant Voice (Tenor) - The Boyar-in-Attendance Voice (Tenor) - The Boyar Khrushchov Voice (Bass) - Lawicki (or Lavitsky), Jesuit Voice (Bass) - Czernikowski (or Chernikovsky), Jesuit Chorus/Choir - Mixed Chorus ; Boyars, the Boyars' children, streltsï, bodyguards, policemen, Polish nobles*, Sandomierz maidens, wandering minstrels, people of Moscow Orchestra |
| Arrangements |
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Dmitri Shostakovitch: Orchestration of the Opera 'Boris Godunov' by Mussorgsky, Op. 58
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| Autotranslations beta |
Modeste Moussorgski: Boris Godunov Modest Petrovič Musorgskij: Boris Godunov Modest Petrowitsch Mussorgski: Boris Godunov |