Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov – Mstislav Rostropovich (3 CDs) WARNER CLASSICS

This recording of Boris Godunov, conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich, became the soundtrack of a film by Polish director Andrzej Żuławski. The star of both, charismatic Italian bass Ruggero Raimondi, praised Rostropovich’s decision to use Mussorgsky’s own version of the score by saying: “I always believe that genius expresses itself with simplicity.” Rostropovich’s wife, Galina Vishnevskaya sings the Polish princess MarinaMniszek, also providing a cameo as the Hostess. Paul Plishka, an American of Ukrainian heritage, is the solemn Pimen, while veteran tenor Nicola Gedda sings the Simpleton, leaving his erstwhile role of the Pretender (Grigoriy) to the impassioned Vyacheslav Polozov.

– Disc 1 –
1 Boris Godunov, Prologue: “Well, What’s Got Into You?” (Police Officer, Chorus)
2 Boris Godunov, Prologue: “Who Are You Abandoning Us to, Father?” (Chorus)
3 Boris Godunov, Prologue: “Orthodox People! the Boyar Is Implacable… Glory Be to Thee, Most High Creator, on Earth!” (Shchelkalov, Chorus)
4 Boris Godunov, Prologue: “Did You Hear What the Godly People Said?” (Mityukha, Police Officer, Chorus)
5 Boris Godunov, Prologue: “Long Live Tsar Boris Fyodorovich!” (Shuisky, Chorus)
6 Boris Godunov, Prologue: “My Soul Grieves!” (Boris, Shuisky, Chorus)
7 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “One Last Narration” (Pimen)
8 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “Strong and Just Lord” (Chorus, Grigory, Pimen)
9 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “You Have Been Writing All the Time” (Grigory, Pimen)
10 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “Oh, I Remember!… Then I Was Sent to Uglich” (Pimen, Grigory)
11 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “They Are Ringing for Matins… Boris! Everyone Trembles Before You” (Chorus, Pimen, Grigory)
12 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “I’ve Caught a Smoky-Blue Drake” (Hostess)
13 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “Christian Folk, Honest, Godly Folk” (Varlaam, Missail, Grigory, Hostess)
14 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “Oh, in the Town of Kazan” (Varlaam)
15 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “Counsel!” (Varlaam, Grigory, Hostess)
16 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “Who Are You?… Humble Fathers, Honest Monks” (Police Officer, Varlaam, Missail, Grigory, Hostess)
17 Boris Godunov, Act 1: “What Are You Doing! Accursed Rogues!” (Varlaam, Missail, Police Officer)
– Disc 2 –
1 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “Where Are You, My Betrothed” (Xenia, Fyodor)
2 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “Oh, That Will Do, My Dear Tsarevna!… a Gnat Was Chopping Wood” (Nurse)
3 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “Oh, Nurse, Dear Nurse, What a Story to Tell!… Clapping Game” (Nurse, Fyodor)
4 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “What’s Happening?” (Fyodor, Boris, Xenia)
5 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “How Splendid, My Son!” (Boris)
6 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “Hey, Shoo, Shoo!… What’s Going On?” (Nurse, Boris, Boyar, Fyodor)
7 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “It’s All Our Parrot’s Fault” (Fyodor, Boris)
8 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “My Son, My Very Own Child!” (Boris, Shuisky, Fyodor)
9 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “No, I Cannot… I Cannot, My Child! Tsarevich, Obey!” (Boris, Shuisky)
10 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “Why, You Do Not Believe Me?” (Shuisky)
11 Boris Godunov, Act 2: “Enough! Oh, I Can Hardly Breathe!” (Boris)
12 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “On the Azure Vistula Under a Shady Willow” (Chorus, Marina)
13 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “Enough!… the Beautiful Lady Is Grateful” (Marina)
14 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “I Do Not Need You Today, Rusya” (Marina)
15 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “Ah!… Oh, It Is You, My Father!” (Marina, Rangoni)
16 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “At Midnight… in the Garden… By the Fountain… ” (Dmitry the Pretender, Rangoni)
17 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “Think Again, Tsarevich… And Quickly We Shall Capture the Domain of Muscovy!” (Rangoni, Marina, Chorus)
– Disc 3 –
1 Boris Godunov, Act 3: “It Is Her! Marina!” (Marina, Dmitry the Pretender)
2 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Well, Is the Mass Over?” (Chorus, Mityukha)
3 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “TRRR, TRRR, TRRR” (Chorus, Simpleton)
4 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Ah! Ah! They’ve Offended God’s Fool!” (Simpleton, Boris, Shuisky, Chorus)
5 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Most Honorable Boyars!” (Shchelkalov)
6 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Well? Let Us Pass Sentence, Boyars” (Chorus, Shuisky)
7 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Oh, What Are You Saying, Boyars!” (Shuisky, Chorus)
8 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Keep Away! Away!” (Boris, Shuisky, Chorus)
9 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Gracious Sovereign!… My Story Will Be Simple and Short” (Shuisky, Boris, Pimen)
10 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Oh, I Can’t Breathe!… Lord! Lord! Look Down, I Beseech Thee” (Boris)
11 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Weep, Weep, People” (Chorus, Boris, Fyodor)
12 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Down Here! Sit Down on the Stump” (Chorus)
13 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “TRRR… Iron Cap, Iron Cap” (Chorus, Simpleton)
14 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “The Sun and Moon Have Grown Dim” (Missail, Varlaam, Chorus)
15 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Come Away! Youthful Vigour Has Run Wild” (Chorus, Varlaam, Missail)
16 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “Domine, Domine, Salvum Fac” (Lavitsky, Chernikovsky, Chorus)
17 Boris Godunov, Act 4: “What the Deuce Brings Them Here?” (Chorus, Missail, Varlaam, Lavitsky, Chernikovsky, Dmitry the Pretender, Krushchov, Simpleton)