Opera Boris Godunov

The performance marks a celebration of two historical events: a Russian composer Modest Moussorgsky’s 175^th birthday and the 20^th anniversary of listing the Church of Ascension (Vosnesenya) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A musical theatre “Helicon-opera”, directed by Dmitry Bertman, will perform the famous opera of Modes Moussorgsky “Boris Godunov” (Shostakovich version) on August 9. The performance will take place at the square of the Church of Ascension in the memorial state Kolomenskoye, Moscow. It is the first time when an opera performance is played in the open air in Kolomenskoye. If you are taking a tour to Moscow this is a very interesting place to visit.

The performance marks a celebration of two historical events: a Russian composer Modest Moussorgsky’s 175^th birthday and the 20^th anniversary of listing the Church of Ascension (Vosnesenya) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The construction of the Church was finished in 1532, the action in “Boris Godunov” starts in 1598.

“Boris Godunov” is one of the most famous and repertory Russian operas. This composition has numerous versions. First of all, there are two author's editions by Moussorgsky himself. Then Rymsky-Korsakov has left several different editions. Dmitry Shostakovich was asked by the Bolshoi Theatre to create his version of the opera in 1940. As he has instrumented Moussorgsky’s clavier in a new fashion, Shostakovich can be considered a co-author of the opera. In 2006, the year of 100^th Shostakovich’s birthday, “Helicon–opera” theatre used that version of “Boris Godunov”.

The director says that a special version of the opera is being fitted to be performed in Kolomenskoye. The landscape and historical sites will be included in settings. The performance is going to be accompanied by the live orchestra and a chorus, which will sing in the Church of Ascension and in front of it. The audience will also listen to a real bell-ringing of the Church. The opera will be performed in a full and uncut version.

Kolomenskoye is a former manor of Grand Dukes and royal residence. It is a unique architectural ensemble of the 16-17^th centuries, placed on the right bank of the Moskva river. The complex was first mentioned in 1339 in the will (Duhovnaya Gramota) of Ivan Kalita. Now it is a state architectural conservation area. If you take Trans Siberian railway tour and are planning to stop in Moscow this is must see performance.