Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Great Recordings of the Century) [Original recording remastered, Box set]

Boris Christoff (Artist), John Lanigan (Artist), Evelyn Lear (Artist), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Andre Cluytens (Conductor), Societe du Conservatoire Paris Orchestra (Orchestra), Sofia National Opera Chorus (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sofia National Opera Chorus
• Orchestra: Societe du Conservatoire Paris Orchestra
• Conductor: Andre Cluytens
• Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
• Audio CD (September 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Original recording remastered, Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00006I0DL
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,974 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Prologue. Scene 1. Andante. Nu, shtozh vy? - Boris Christoff

2. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Prologue. Scene 1. Na kovó ty nas pokidáesh - Boris Christoff

3. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Prologue. Scene 1. Pravoslávnyye! nye umolin boyárin! - Boris Christoff

4. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Prologue. Scene 1. Sláva tebyé tvorstú vsevýshnemu, na zemlé! - Boris Christoff

5. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Prologue. Scene 2. Moderato - Boris Christoff

6. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Prologue. Scene 2. Da zdrávstvuet tsar Boris Feódorovich! - Boris Christoff

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 2. Gdye ty, zheníh moy - Boris Christoff

2. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 2. Kak komár drová rubíl - Boris Christoff

3. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 2. Ekh, máma, mámushka, vot kak skázochka! - Boris Christoff

4. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 2. Chevó? Al lyúty zvyer nasyédku vspolokhnúl? - Boris Christoff

5. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 2. A ty, moy syn, chem zányat? - Boris Christoff

6. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 2. Dostíg ya výshey vlásti - Boris Christoff

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 3. Scene 2. V pólnoch...v sadú...u fontána

2. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 3. Scene 2. Tsaryévich!...Opyát' za mnoy!

3. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 3. Scene 2. Dovól'no! Slíshkom mnógo upryókov

4. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 3. Scene 2. Polonaise...Váshey strásti ya nye vyéryu, pánye

5. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 3. Scene 2. Iezuít lukávy krépko zhal menyá

6. Boris Godunov, opera (Rimsky-Korsakov edition): Act 3. Scene 2. Dimítry! tsaryévich Dimítry!

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christoff Boris, December 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

How I do love this recording! I got it on LP's eons ago. The CD re mastering is wonderful. Much more sonic detail.
I realize that we're now supposed to eschew (or even detest) the
Rimsky version of this opera (of which this recording is an example); but this Boris is still the one for me. Christoff (who sings three roles on this recording) is amazing as the tormented and guilt-ridden Czar. He floats the last few bars of the farewell to Feodor/prayer to a degree of breath-taking (No. Make that jaw-dropping) beauty I've not heard any other Boris do before or since this recording. Evelyn Lear is in sumptuous voice as Marina. The Dimitri and the rest of the cast are also admirable.
If one is not totally dedicated to the detestation of the Rimsky edition (or even if one is so dedicated), this is a Boris not to be missed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars When you tire of the cock-n-bull, this will satisfy, March 30, 2011

By 

Jurgen Lawrenz (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

I hope you're as tired as I am of all the cock-n-bull about Rimsky that we have to endure every time someone reviews Mussorgsky's opera. It is true that Rimsky turned it into a grand opera - it might even be the best work he ever did! But criticism of him fails the mark consistently. I have heard Shostakovitch's version, which sounds like Shostakovitch, and very little of 19th century opera survives. I have also heard Mussorgsky's own "unadulterated" product, and it feeble as an opera - more like a disjointed string of episodes, some good, some bad, and some disastrously inept. At best, it is suitable for a presentation of highlights. So why criticise Rimsky? Without him, there would be no Boris Godunov in the repertoire! Without him, Mussorgsky would be a cipher or a footnote in musical history!
The point is: the greatness and grandeur of Mussorgsky's conception actually survives in his completion.
So now that I got this off my chest, let's turn to Boris Christoff and his impersonation of Boris, Pimen and Varlaam. I doubt it was a happy choice. He sounds the same in all three roles. Until you get used to it and can follow it without a libretto, you can get confused about who is singing, especially when two of them are on stage at the same time. I actually prefer his earlier impersonation (mono only); but only marginally. His Boris is very impressive on all counts, and the stereo sound compensates for some slight reduction in the voltage of his portrayal. What a voice! What a tremendous range of expression!
The other singers are not up to the same standard. But then their roles are nowhere near as weighty or important. Lear is a seductive Marina; but Osunow sound a bit like an oaf, despite the strength of his tenor. The other outstanding singer is Anton Diakov: I hate Rangoni so much, that Diakov's portrayal must be perfect! The Chorus, especially imported from Bukarest on Christoff's recommendation, sing very well, but not conspicuously better than other choruses.
The orchestra and the conductor do a respectable job. You can't compare them with Karajan and the Vienna Philharmonic. But Karajan did not have Christoff to sing for him. That might be a decisive criterion for the prospective buyer. The sound technology is also dated. When the orchestra played mezzo forte or lower, the sound is beautifully soft and ample. But (at least on my set) the climaxes are a bit raw, especially the bells in the prologue, which are altogether oversaturated and downright unpleasant to endure.
I can live with his set. Indeed I've lived with it for nearly 40 years now, buying it three times (LP, tape and CD). Still, I can't in good conscience overlook its limitations, as mentioned above. Younger audiences may not be as forgiving to them as I have grown to be. Therefore they may be advised to check out reviews of alternatives, before they make up their minds.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greats, October 24, 2008

By 

Steven Muni "Foothills Bear" (Sutter Creek, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

This version is badly cut,and purists may sneer at the Rimsky-Korsakoff arrangement, but it has two things going for it. The first thing is Boris Christoff. The second thing is Boris Christoff. (He sings three roles in this recording, which is a little confusing, but what the heck!) Christoff, with a rich and powerful bass-baritone, was one of the 20th century's leading exponents of the role of Boris Godunov. He is simply a force of nature in the title role, yet with the ability to shade his voice into heartrending beauty and sorrow. The rest of the cast is excellent. Andre Cluytens conducts with a terrific mix of power and sensitivity, and the quality of the recording is quite good. While this may not be everybody's first choice, it belongs on every opera lover's shelf simply because it gives us the chance to hear one of the greatest bass-baritones of the century in his signature role.