Royal Opera House: Boris Godunov

Overview

Mussorgsky was inspired to compose his masterpiece Boris Godunov after reading Pushkin’s Shakespeare-inspired play of the same name. It features one of the most dramatically rewarding bass-baritone roles: a noble ruler who loves his children and his people, but whose thirst for power has led him to commit a terrible crime. Bryn Terfel is “a powerful new Boris” (The Observer) in Richard Jones’ new production of the original 1869 score. Antonio Pappano conducts an outstanding cast that also includes John Graham-Hall as the crafty Prince Shuisky and John Tomlinson as the vagabond monk Varlaam.

Directed by Richard Jones

Top cast

Bryn Terfel

Boris Godunov

A

Ain Anger

Pimen

D

David Butt Philip

Grigory Otrepiev

John Graham-Hall

Prince Shuisky

K

Kostas Smoriginas

Andrei Shchelkalov

J

Jeremy White

Nikitich

V

Vlada Borovko

Xenia

Details