An Opera by MUSSORGSKY
The subject taken from Pushkin's Dramatic Chronicle. The complete original text in accordance with the composer's autographed manuscript. Edited by Paul Lamm. English translation by M. C. Calvocoressi
Adapted for Broadcasting by Nikolai Maiko and C. Denis Freeman
Scene I
The Coronation of Boris
A Square in the Moscow Kremlin
The Boyars. The People
Scene II
The Pretender
A Cell in the Monastery
Scene III
The Pretender's Escape
An Inn by the Lithuanian border
Scene IV
Boris's Vision
The Imperial Apartments in the Moscow Kremlin
Scene V
The Warning
A Square in front of the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed at Moscow
The People-Urchins, Old Men and Crowd
Scene VI
The Death of Boris
The Great Reception Hall in, the Moscow Kremlin-The Council of Boyars
Being the story of Boris Godounov from the day of his coronation until his death-of how the young novice, Grigory, hearing from the old monk, Pimen, the story of the Tzarevich Dimitri 's assassination at the order of Boris, pretends to be the rightful Tzarevich and claims the throne-how he flies to Poland and gathers forces to attack Boris-and how Boris, haunted by his crime and tortured by the unfaithfulness of his councillor, Shuisky, dies at a Council of the Boyars-while the pretender marches victoriously upon Moscow.
The action takes place during the years 1598-1605
THE B.B.C. CHORUS
(Section B)
Chorus Master, LESLIE WooDGATE
THE B.B.C. ORCHESTRA
(Section D)
(Led by MARIE WILSON )
Conducted by NIKOLAI MALKO
Produced by C. DENIS FREEMAN and M. H. ALLEN