Boris Godunov (drama)
Encyclopedia
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
, who reigned as Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
from 1598 to 1605. It consists of 25 scenes and is written predominantly in blank verse
Blank verse
Blank verse is poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. It has been described as "probably the most common and influential form that English poetry has taken since the sixteenth century" and Paul Fussell has claimed that "about three-quarters of all English poetry is in blank verse."The first...
.
Vsevolod Meyerhold
Vsevolod Meyerhold
Vsevolod Emilevich Meyerhold was a great Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theatrical producer. His provocative experiments dealing with physical being and symbolism in an unconventional theatre setting made him one of the seminal forces in modern international theatre.-Early...
attempted a staging of the play in the 1930s. Meyerhold commissioned Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
to write incidental music for his production, but when Meyerhold abandoned it under political pressure, the score was abandoned as well.
The original, uncensored play did not receive a première until April 12, 2007, at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and then only in an English translation. This production was based on Meyerhold's design and featured Prokofiev's music, together with supplemental music by Peter Westergaard
Peter Westergaard
Peter Talbot Westergaard is an American composer and music theorist. He is Professor Emeritus of music at Princeton University.-Biography:...
. Chester Dunning
Chester Dunning
Chester S.L. Dunning is an American professor of Russian and European history at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.-Biography:...
, Caryl Emerson, and Sergei Fomichev's The Uncensored Boris Godunov seeks to rescue Pushkin's play from obscurity.
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
based an opera
Boris Godunov (opera)
Boris Godunov is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky . The work was composed between 1868 and 1873 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is Mussorgsky's only completed opera and is considered his masterpiece. Its subjects are the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar during the Time of Troubles,...
on the play.
Characters
- Boris Godunov, boyar, later Tsar
- Fyodor, his son
- Kseniya, his daughter
- Kseniya’s Nurse
- Prince Shuyskiy, boyar
- Prince Vorotinskiy, boyar
- Shchelkalov, Secretary of the Duma
- Pimen, monk and chronicler
- Grigoriy Otrepyev, monk, later Dmitriy, the Pretender
- Patriarch, Abbot of the Chudov Monastery.
- Misail, wandering monk
- Varlaam, wandering monk
- Afanasiy Mikhailovich Pushkin, friend of Prince Shuyskiy
- Gabriel Pushkin, his nephew
- Semyon Nikitich Godunov, secret agent of Boris Godunov
- Prince Kurbskiy, disgraced boyar
- Khrushchov, disgraced boyar
- Karela, a Cossack
- Prince Vishnevetskiy
- Mniszech, Voyevoda of Sambor
- Marina, his daughter
- Ruzya, her chambermaid
- Basmanov, a Russian officer
- Marzharet, officer of the Pretender
- Rozen, officer of the Pretender
- Mosalskiy, boyar
- Hostess of the Inn
- Boyars, People, Peasants, Inspectors, Officers, Attendants, Guests, a Catholic Priest, a Polish Noble, a Poet, an Idiot, a Beggar, Gentlemen, Guards, Soldiers, Ladies, Gentleman, Boys, Servants
Synopsis
- Scene 1 - Kremlin Palaces
- Scene 2 - Red Square
- Scene 3 - Novodevichiy Monastery
- Scene 4 - Kremlin Palaces
- Scene 5 - Night; A Cell in the Chudov Monastery
- Scene 6 - The Fence of the Monastery (Note: Deleted from the published drama)
- Scene 7 - Palaces of the Patriarch
- Scene 8 - The Tsar’s Palaces
- Scene 9 - An Inn on the Lithuanian Border
- Scene 10 - Moscow; The Home of Shuyskiy
- Scene 11 - The Tsar’s Palaces
- Scene 12 - Krakow; The Home of Vishnevetskiy
- Scene 13 - Castle of the Voyevoda Mniszech in Sambor (Note: also deleted from many editions)
- Scene 14 - A Suite of Lighted Rooms
- Scene 15 - Night; A Garden; A Fountain
- Scene 16 - The Lithuanian Frontier
- Scene 17 - The Tsar’s Duma
- Scene 18 - Plain near Novgorod-Seversk
- Scene 19 - Square before a Cathedral in Moscow
- Scene 20 - Sevsk
- Scene 21 - A Forest
- Scene 22 - Moscow; The Tsar’s Palaces
- Scene 23 - A Tent
- Scene 24 - Lobnoye MestoLobnoye MestoLobnoye mesto , also known as the Place of Skulls, is a 13-meter-long stone platform situated on Red Square in Moscow in front of Saint Basil's Cathedral....
(Red SquareRed SquareRed Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod...
) - Scene 25 - The Kremlin; The House of Boris
Historical basis
A familiarity with the historical events surrounding the Time of TroublesTime of Troubles
The Time of Troubles was a period of Russian history comprising the years of interregnum between the death of the last Russian Tsar of the Rurik Dynasty, Feodor Ivanovich, in 1598, and the establishment of the Romanov Dynasty in 1613. In 1601-1603, Russia suffered a famine that killed one-third...
—the interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
period of relative anarchy following the end of the Ryurik Dynasty
Rurik Dynasty
The Rurik dynasty or Rurikids was a dynasty founded by the Varangian prince Rurik, who established himself in Novgorod around the year 862 AD...
(1598) and preceding the Romanov Dynasty
Romanov
The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
(1613)—may facilitate an understanding of the play. Key events are as follows:
- 1584 - Ivan IV "The Terrible", the first Grand PrinceGrand PrinceThe title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
of Muscovy to use the title TsarTsarTsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
(Caesar), dies. Ivan’s successor is his feeble son Fyodor, now Fyodor I, who cares only for spiritual matters, and leaves the affairs of state to his capable brother-in-law, boyarBoyarA boyar, or bolyar , was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Moscovian, Kievan Rus'ian, Bulgarian, Wallachian, and Moldavian aristocracies, second only to the ruling princes , from the 10th century through the 17th century....
Boris GodunovBoris GodunovBoris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
, now de facto regentRegentA regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
. - 1591 - Ivan’s other son DmitriyTsarevich DimitriTsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich, also known as Tsarevich Demetrius, Tsarevich Dimitri, Dmitry of Uglich, and Dmitry of Moscow, was a Russian tsarevich, son of Ivan the Terrible and Maria Nagaya.-Life:...
dies under mysterious circumstances in UglichUglichUglich is a historic town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, which stands on the Volga River. Population: A local tradition dates the town's origins to 937. It was first documented in 1148 as Ugliche Pole...
. An investigation, ordered by Godunov and carried out by Prince Vasiliy Shuyskiy, determines that the Tsarevich, while playing with a knife, had an epileptic seizure, fell, and died from a self-inflicted wound to the throat. Dmitriy's mother, Maria NagayaMaria NagayaMaria Feodorovna Nagaya was a Russian tsarina and eighth wife of Ivan the Terrible.Maria married Ivan IV in 1581 and a year later gave birth to their son Dmitry. After the Tsar's death in 1584, Nagaya, her son and her brothers were sent into exile to Uglich by Boris Godunov, where she lived...
, exiled with him to Uglich by Godunov, claims he was assassinated. Rumors linking Boris to the crime are circulated by his enemies. - 1598 - Tsar Fyodor I dies. He is virtually the last representative of the Ryurik DynastyRurik DynastyThe Rurik dynasty or Rurikids was a dynasty founded by the Varangian prince Rurik, who established himself in Novgorod around the year 862 AD...
that has ruled Russia for 7 centuries. Patriarch Job of Moscow nominates Boris to succeed Fyodor I as Tsar, despite the rumors that Boris ordered the murder of DmitriyTsarevich DimitriTsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich, also known as Tsarevich Demetrius, Tsarevich Dimitri, Dmitry of Uglich, and Dmitry of Moscow, was a Russian tsarevich, son of Ivan the Terrible and Maria Nagaya.-Life:...
. Boris agrees to ascend the throne only if elected by the Zemskiy SoborZemsky SoborThe zemsky sobor was the first Russian parliament of the feudal Estates type, in the 16th and 17th centuries. The term roughly means assembly of the land. It could be summoned either by tsar, or patriarch, or the Boyar Duma...
. This the assembly does unanimously, and Boris is crowned the same year. - 1604 - A pretenderPretenderA pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the throne appears, claiming to be Tsarevich DmitriyTsarevich DimitriTsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich, also known as Tsarevich Demetrius, Tsarevich Dimitri, Dmitry of Uglich, and Dmitry of Moscow, was a Russian tsarevich, son of Ivan the Terrible and Maria Nagaya.-Life:...
, but believed to be in reality one Grigoriy Otrepyev. He gains the support of the Polish aristocracy, and, obtaining a force of soldiers, he marches on MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Crossing into Russia, Dmitriy’s invasion force is joined by disaffected Cossacks. However, after a few victories, it loses momentum. - 1605 - Boris dies of unknown causes. He is succeeded by his son Fyodor, now Fyodor II. The death of Boris gives new life to the campaign of the False Dmitriy, who enters MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Boyars who flock to his side murder Fyodor II and his mother. - 1606 - False Dmitriy IFalse Dmitriy IFalse Dmitriy I was the Tsar of Russia from 21 July 1605 until his death on 17 May 1606 under the name of Dimitriy Ioannovich . He is sometimes referred to under the usurped title of Dmitriy II...
is murdered, and is succeeded by Vasiliy Shuyskiy, now Vasiliy IV. - 1610 - Vasiliy IV is deposedDeposition (politics)Deposition by political means concerns the removal of a politician or monarch. It may be done by coup, impeachment, invasion or forced abdication...
, and dies two years later in a Polish prison. Another pretender claiming to be Dmitriy Ivanovich, False Dmitriy II, is murdered. - 1612 - Yet a third pretender, False Dmitriy III, is captured and executed.
- 1613 - The Time of Troubles comes to a close with the accession of Mikhail Romanov, son of Fyodor RomanovPatriarch Filaret (Feodor Romanov)Feodor Nikitich Romanov was a Russian boyar who after temporary disgrace rose to become patriarch of Moscow as Filaret , and became de-facto ruler of Russia during the reign of his son, Mikhail Feodorovich.- Life :...
, who had been persecuted under Boris Godunov's reign.
The culpability of Boris in the matter of Dmitriy's death can neither be proven nor disproved. Karamzin, the historian to whom the drama is dedicated, accepted it as fact and Pushkin himself assumed it was true, at least for the purpose of creating a tragedy in the mold of Shakespeare. Modern historians, however, tend to acquit Boris of the crime.
Stage designs
The following gallery depicts the scene designs created by Matvey Shishkov for the first performance of the drama in 1870 at the Mariinsky TheatreMariinsky Theatre
The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. The...
, Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia.
Sources
- Dunning, ChesterChester DunningChester S.L. Dunning is an American professor of Russian and European history at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.-Biography:...
, et al. 2006. The Uncensored Boris Godunov: The Case for Pushkin's Original Comedy, with Annotated Text and Translation. Publications of the Wisconsin Center for Pushkin Studies ser. Madison, WI: U of Wisconsin P. ISBN 978-0299207601.
External links
- Website for Princeton University's production. (Note: this server is very slow.)
- Online exhibition associated with Princeton University's production.