Guide
Key Word Search
Multi-Field Search
Browse
Met Opera on Demand
Sirius and XM
Repertory Report
Performers Report
Contacts
Met Opera Website
Boris Godunov
Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, February 13, 1943 Matinee Broadcast
In Italian
Boris Godunov (99)
Modest Mussorgsky | Modest Mussorgsky
- Boris Godunov
- Alexander Kipnis
- Prince Shuisky
- Alessio De Paolis
- Pimen
- Nicola Moscona
- Grigory
- Ren? Maison
- Marina
- Kerstin Thorborg
- Rangoni
- Leonard Warren
- Varlaam
- Norman Cordon
- Simpleton
- John Garris
- Nikitich
- John Gurney
- Shchelkalov
- George Cehanovsky
- Innkeeper
- Doris Doe
- Missail
- John Dudley
- Officer
- Osie Hawkins
- Xenia
- Marita Farell
- Feodor
- Irra Petina
- Nurse
- Anna Kaskas
- Lavitsky
- Lansing Hatfield
- Chernikovsky
- Lorenzo Alvary
- Peasant
- Maxine Stellman
- Peasant
- Helen Olheim
- Peasant
- Lodovico Oliviero
- Peasant
- Wilfred Engelman
- Boyar in Attendance
- Emery Darcy
- Conductor
- George Szell
Kipnis always sang Boris in Russian.
Review 1:
Review of Harold Taubman in the New York Times
Alexander Kipnis, Russian-born basso of the Metropolitan who became an American citizen a good many years ago, brought his authority and knowledge of the tradition to his first appearance here in the title role of Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunoff" at the Opera House yesterday afternoon. Mr. Kipnis was a regal Boris in song and action when he faced the world and he illuminated the psychology of the troubled Czar in the later, revealing pages of the score.
Like his great Russian predecessor, Feodor Chaliapin, Mr. Kipnis sang Boris in the original language, while the rest of the Metropolitan ensemble sang Italian. To those who understood neither language it was not a ludicrous proceeding, though it was certainly a convincing argument for opera in English, if translations must be employed. However, Mr. Kipnis was wise to sing in Russian. That is the language to which Mussorgsky wrote his music and the part achieves its full stature, power and impact in Russian. Mr. Kipnis's portrayal was one of the best in his gallery of fine characterizations.
Search by season: 1942-43
Search by title: Boris Godunov,
Met careers
- George Szell [Conductor]
- Alexander Kipnis [Boris Godunov]
- Alessio De Paolis [Prince Shuisky]
- Nicola Moscona [Pimen]
- Ren? Maison [Grigory]
- Kerstin Thorborg [Marina]
- Leonard Warren [Rangoni]
- Norman Cordon [Varlaam]
- John Garris [Simpleton]
- John Gurney [Nikitich]
- George Cehanovsky [Shchelkalov]
- Doris Doe [Innkeeper]
- John Dudley [Missail]
- Osie Hawkins [Officer]
- Marita Farell [Xenia]
- Irra Petina [Feodor]
- Anna Kaskas [Nurse]
- Lansing Hatfield [Lavitsky]
- Lorenzo Alvary [Chernikovsky]
- Maxine Stellman [Peasant]
- Helen Olheim [Peasant]
- Lodovico Oliviero [Peasant]
- Wilfred Engelman [Peasant]
- Emery Darcy [Boyar in Attendance]