EMI's 1977 recording of a conflation of Mussorgsky's two versions of Boris Godunov suffers from an excess of restraint and propriety. The fault lies largely with Jerzy Semkow, who conducts the opera with Classical reserve. He seems unwilling to urge the orchestra or singers to produce a full-blooded fortissimo, or to attack the notes with ferocity when called for. His soft-edged, careful approach is exactly wrong for the opera, which needs a rough-hewn, raw power, and a propulsive dramatic energy to drive its episodic ...
Read More
EMI's 1977 recording of a conflation of Mussorgsky's two versions of Boris Godunov suffers from an excess of restraint and propriety. The fault lies largely with Jerzy Semkow, who conducts the opera with Classical reserve. He seems unwilling to urge the orchestra or singers to produce a full-blooded fortissimo, or to attack the notes with ferocity when called for. His soft-edged, careful approach is exactly wrong for the opera, which needs a rough-hewn, raw power, and a propulsive dramatic energy to drive its episodic scenes into a meaningful whole. His reading lacks any sense of danger or menace; the chorus in particular sounds like an entirely pacific and happy (if large) church choir. The soloists are in universally fine voice, but in the flaccid orchestral and choral context, their dramatic impact is usually diminished. As Boris, Martti Talvela sings beautifully, with exemplary richness and gravity, but for the most part his performance sounds more benevolent than threatening; his mad scene at the...
Read Less
Add this copy of Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov to cart. $75.96, like new condition, Sold by Streetlight_Records rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Cruz, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by EMI Classics.
