BORIS GODUNOV - Nesterenko, Arkhipova - Bolshoi, 1978, English subtitles, Годунов, Большой
  2:41:06

This epic opera based on Pushkin's play is notoriously difficult to stage in the West. Powerful music is inseparable from as powerful classic Russian, language carrying the same load as notes. This version from Bolshoi may be the best forging of the two existing on video, and Godunov of Nesterenko is one of the starkest 'Pushkin magnitude' interpretations of the role. Timing below.

Boris Godunov - EVGENY NESTERENKO
Grigory Otrepyev (False Dimitrii) - VLADISLAV PIAVKO
Marina Mnishek - IRINA ARKHIPOVA
Pimen - VALERY YAROSLAVTSEV
Prince Shuiskii - ANDREY SOKOLOV
Innkeeper - LARISA NIKITINA
Tsarevich Fyodor - GLAFIRA KOROLEVA
Tsarevna Xenia - GALINA KALININA
Nurse - NINA GRIGORIEVA
Father Varlaam - ARTUR EIZEN
The Holy Fool - ALEXEY MASLENNIKOV

Music: Modest Mussorgsky

Conductor -BORIS HAIKIN
Director - LEONID BARATOV

15:05 - The Coronation Scene (Red Square; Godunov, boyars, chorus - Сцена коронации)
19:22 - My soul is sad... (Monologue of Godunov- Скорбит душа...)
24:21 - One more, the final record, and my annals are ended... (Chudov Monastery; Pimen, Grigory - Еще одно, последнее сказанье)
40:27 - The Inn Scene (Lithuanian Border; the Innkeeper, Grigory, Varlaam - Cцена в корчме)
1:01:11 - The Scene in the Tsar's Palaces (Godunov, Fyodor, Xenia, the Nurse, Shuiskii - Сцена в царских палатах)
1:11:33 - I have achieved supreme power... (Monologue of Godunov - Достиг я высшей власти...)
1:30:34 - The Polish Scene (Castle of Voevoda Mniszech; Grigory, Marina, chorus - Польские картины)
1:49:26 - The Holy Fool Scene (Square before a Cathedral in Moscow; Godunov, The Holy Fool, chorus - Сцена c Юродивым)
1:59:19 - The Scene in the Forest (Varlaam, Misail, Grigory, chorus - Сцена в лесу)
2:16:37 - The Death of Tsar Boris (The Cremlin; Godunov, Shuiskii, Fiodor, chorus - Смерть Царя Бориса)
2:30:58 - Farewell, my son, I am dying... (The final monologue of Godunov - Прощай, мой сын, умираю я...)