Boris Godunov

Paperback

Main Details

Title Boris Godunov
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Modest Mussorgsky
Edited by John Nicholas
Translated by David Lloyd-Jones
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback
Pages:112
Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 135
Category/GenreOpera
ISBN/Barcode 9780714544151
ClassificationsDewey:782.12068
Audience
General
Illustrations Illustrations

Publishing Details

Publisher Oneworld Classics Ltd
Imprint Overture Publishing
Publication Date 7 February 2011
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

This famous opera has had a chequered performance history, and Professor Laurel E. Fay, in an illuminating musical analysis, points out that the interpretation of the opera depends very much on which edition is used. Robert Oldani introduces the 'Boris problem': Pushkin's play was not an obvious choice for a young composer, since it had been banned from performance for forty years, and it is the Russian people, rather than any single character, who is the protagonist. Mussorgsky forged his own text and created a legendary masterwork; Alex de Jonge examines its uniquely Russian character and notes the unsettling parallels of the history of old Russia with today. Nigel Osborne's comparison of the Rimsky-Korsakov and Mussorgsky versions highlights their individual qualities.

Author Biography

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839 - 1881) was a Russian composer during the romantic period. Many of his works, such as the opera Boris Godunov, were inspired by Russian history and folklore among other nationalist themes.

Reviews

"Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series." "TLS""