Fedoseyev: Mussorgsky – Boris Godunov, 1983 (3 CD, FLAC)

Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
Orchestra: USSR TV and Radio Large Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Vladimir Fedoseyev
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Philips
Size: 936 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Boris Godunov – Alexander Vedernikov
Feodor – Glafira Koroleva
Xenia – Elena Shkolnikova
Nurse – Nina Grigorieva
Shuisky – Andrei Sokolov
Shchelkalov – Alexander Voroshilo
Pimen – Vladimir Matorin
Grigory (Dimitri) – Vladislav Piavko
Marina Mnishek – Irina Apkhipova
Rangoni – Yuri Masurok
Varlaam – Artur Eisen
Missail – Anatoli Mishutin
Hostess – Ludmila Simonova
Simpleton – Janis Sporgis
Nikitich – Vladimir Filippov
Mitiukha – Nikolai Nizinenko
Boyar – Yuri Elnikov
Chernikovsky – Vladimir Silaev

Powerful, moving and well-recorded

Given how old this recording is, I’m surprized no one else has reviewed it before. This is a Soviet recording made between 1978 and 1983(!)in Moscow by the USSR Radio and TV Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev. Orchestra, conductor and solists alike were all unfamiliar when I came across this CD at the library, but now they are stars in my mind. The version here is Mussorgsky’s 1872 ‘definitive’ version of ‘Boris Godunov’ with the original orchestration, and after listening to it back-to-back with Rimsky’s version, I have a hard time understanding why so many people apparently thought this opera needed fixing up! It’s longer than Rimsky’s, coming in at almost 3 1/2 hours, but an exquisite 3 1/2 hours it is. In fact, I’ve found it so addictive that after listening to the library copy three times in one week, I figured I’d better buy one here at Amazon. The performance frequently burns with mystical intensity. The principal cast members are all very strong, although the innkeeper woman is a little wobbly. Boris himself is both haunted and haunting from the word go. The recording is very cleanly done and is a pleasure to listen to. Don’t pass this up if you’re interested in what Mussorgsky thought ‘Boris’ should be. You don’t need big names for a stellar performance!