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Binding : DVDEAN : 0044007508992Label : PhilipsManufacturer : PhilipsPublisher : PhilipsRelease date : 2002-08-05Title : Boris Godunov - Mussorgsky [DVD] [1992] [NTSC]Actor : ArrayAudience rating : ExemptFormat : ArrayLanguages : ArrayNumber of items : 2Original release date : 1992-01-01Region code : 0Running time : 210Studio : PhilipsTheatrical releaseDate : 1990MPN : 075089Number of discs : 2 Beautifully sung, very well-acted, superbly directed. You can't go wrong with this recording. Robert Lloyd sings brilliantly and the Tarkovsky direction is of a very high standard. If you love Russian opera, if you just love opera and pageantry, this is a marvellous performance and a very enjoyable entertainment.
I bought this DVD a few days ago. It is compulsive viewing,absolutly brilliant sound too.pThe cast is superb. Look out for the 'demonic' Polish priest .brHe is depicted as a nosferatu figure preying rather than praying.
I picked this up almost by accident, took it home, put it on and over 2 hours latter was still glued to the screen.pThe music is great - wonderfully sung and played. It is almost impossible to pick out individual performers as anything other than outstanding. The mainly Russian forces bring a depth of understanding and menaing to the words which comes over in the performance. The orchestra is subtle and responsive to some very fine conducting.pThe plot is very 'Shakespearean' - complete with murdered princes and peasant pretenders to the throne with a good popular revolt too (That's Richard 3 mixed with Henry 4). There's even a funny priest and a wicked woman.pFinally the production (originally Royal Opera House) is perfect for the small screen - Tarkovski (film maker) brings strong direction and mighty fine images to stage which help bring a strong sense of character and situation.pI just loved it!
I picked this up and bought it on impulse - what a buy!brAs I started to watch the music washed over me and dragged me down into it - the plot gripped and that was it - over 200 minutes latter I was still firmly hooked.pThe opera itself is Shakespearean in scope - a sort of mix of Richard 3 and Henry 4 complete with child murder and pretenders to the throne. The characters complex and given the sort of range of 'tunes' you would expect from the better sort of Russian 19th Century music. The acting uniformly good.pThe music is really helped by the revealing conducting and the excellent singing - from the 'best' of Russia (and an extra you wouldn't think wasn't Russian!).pBut the greatest element (if I can be so mean as to single anything out) is the production - Andrei Tarkovski stretching operatic images into his own very cinematic world -which is one of the things that makes this stage production work on the small screen!pWatch the death of Boris and feel your soul scourged!