Boris Gudonov

The story takes place in Russia, at the turn of the 17th century. The young czarevitch has died in unexplained circumstances, and the crowd is preparing to place Boris Gudonov at the head of the Empire, unaware that the bold and scheming rogue is himself the assassin of the legitimate heir to the throne. His enemies are already conspiring to bring him down, when the new Czar's own remorse fills his thoughts and brings him nearer and nearer to madness... Freely inspired by actual facts, Boris Gudonov tells a chilling parable of political ambition. For the opera does not limit itself to a simple historical chronicle. It is shot through with the echoes of the greatest Shakespearian tragedies. It is a deeply mystical tale that questions the nature of power, the nature of crime, and punishment. In addition to a fable of a solitary tyrant, Boris Gudonov is also the tale of the Russian people in its enormous diversity, whose obstinacy bursts forth in an explosion of choral power rarely heard in any other work. Moussorgsky paints the character of common man, ordinary people who get caught up in the machinations of History. He clearly takes great pleasure in expressing the different characters he brings into play, and even adds a sharp sense of comedy. Boris Gudonov is a vast fresco of epic proportions. Its psychological thriller dimension is well served by that masterful production by Jean-Romain Vesperini, who very subtly and intuitively picks up on all the colours in this unforgettable music.

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