Boris Godunov Review – A Wild-Eyed, Barking Performance
A bloody opening scene sets the tone for a brutal opera that pushes towards crisis with relentless intensity. Based on Pushkin's drama about a tsar's reign, Mussorgsky's work is dominated by low voices and dense, heavy orchestration. Conductor Mark Wigglesworth expertly maintains momentum, contrasting monumental slabs of lower brass with finely blended high woodwind to create a musical chiaroscuro.
Bryn Terfel shines as the troubled tsar, delivering a wild-eyed performance marked by violent consonants, grim giggles, and barks that send chills down the spine. However, his voice remains supple and rich, refusing to give up on the character's ultimate humanity.
The set design is simple yet effective, with a single, beautifully lit box serving as both backdrop and stage for the drama. The chorus is clad in drab peasant attire until they're dressed to impress for Boris's coronation, and even then, their movements are frenetic.
Terfel is joined by an impressive cast of singers, including Adam Palka as Pimen and Andrii Kymach as Andrei Shchelkalov. Alexander Roslavets and Jamez McCorkle also make a strong impression in supporting roles, but it's Terfel who steals the show with his nuanced performance that never falters.
Ultimately, Boris Godunov is an opera that frames singing as the main event, and this production delivers on that promise.
A bloody opening scene sets the tone for a brutal opera that pushes towards crisis with relentless intensity. Based on Pushkin's drama about a tsar's reign, Mussorgsky's work is dominated by low voices and dense, heavy orchestration. Conductor Mark Wigglesworth expertly maintains momentum, contrasting monumental slabs of lower brass with finely blended high woodwind to create a musical chiaroscuro.
Bryn Terfel shines as the troubled tsar, delivering a wild-eyed performance marked by violent consonants, grim giggles, and barks that send chills down the spine. However, his voice remains supple and rich, refusing to give up on the character's ultimate humanity.
The set design is simple yet effective, with a single, beautifully lit box serving as both backdrop and stage for the drama. The chorus is clad in drab peasant attire until they're dressed to impress for Boris's coronation, and even then, their movements are frenetic.
Terfel is joined by an impressive cast of singers, including Adam Palka as Pimen and Andrii Kymach as Andrei Shchelkalov. Alexander Roslavets and Jamez McCorkle also make a strong impression in supporting roles, but it's Terfel who steals the show with his nuanced performance that never falters.
Ultimately, Boris Godunov is an opera that frames singing as the main event, and this production delivers on that promise.
! Bryn Terfel's performance is supposed to be WILD EYED 
and barking performances are just what I need after watching Netflix for 3 days straight 
. The conductor Mark Wigglesworth is like the orchestra whisperer, keeping it all in sync and heavy orchestration is like my jam 
. But I gotta say, a musical chiaroscuro? Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie 
. Either way, I'm sold!
the conductor's use of light and dark sounds was insane how did they make it work with those super heavy brass instruments? and Bryn Terfel as Boris is just wow his voice can go from all deep and scary to really soft and human in like 2 seconds 
I also loved how the set design was so simple but effective, it added to the whole "wild-eyed" feel of the opera 
does anyone know if this production has come to a city near me?
he really brought the drama to life like, his voice is so rich and deep it gave me chills every time he sang 
Mark Wigglesworth did a great job as conductor, he really knew how to build up that drama...anyway, just went and saw it tonight and I'm totally hooked 
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, Mussorgsky's orchestra gets a serious workout 
and I'm totally with him when he's all barking mad 
I'm more of a Netflix binge-watching kinda girl myself, have you seen that new show "The Last Of Us"? 
i mean, who else can make you feel like the tsar's got some serious issues but still looks all regal and stuff? his voice is so rich and deep, u gotta love it 
! and u know what really gets me? how he never loses that human side to his character, even when things get super dark 
. this opera is def one for the books, and terfel's performance is like the icing on the cake 
just saw the most intense opera review of Boris Godunov 
anyway, glad Mark Wigglesworth kept the momentum going and the singers deliver an impressive performance 
. The reviewer seems to think it's all about Bryn Terfel's voice and how it steals the show... yeah right, what about the rest of the cast? I bet they're just background noise in his eyes 
. And don't even get me started on the conductor, Mark Wigglesworth... probably just a yes-man trying to impress the opera snobs 
. Simple set design? Give me a break, that's just lazy design 
, but seriously, that single box setup actually worked really well in creating a sense of intimacy and chaos at the same time. And Bryn Terfel's performance... WOW! He totally brings that wild-eyed energy to Boris Godunov, it's like you can feel his desperation and madness 
And Terfel's performance just... wow! It's like he's channeling some kind of tsarly energy or something. 
and I'm loving Bryn Terfel's performance as the tsar - he really brings the character to life with those intense barks and wild eyes 
... I'm a huge fan of Mussorgsky's work, but this production really makes it come alive 
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