Boris Godunov at San Francisco Opera

Originally a production from Grand Théâtre de Genève, San Francisco Opera's 2008 presentation of Modest Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov is the Company's first staging of the composer's seven-scene, original 1869 version of the political drama. American bass Samuel Ramey takes on the title role of the 16th-century Russia tsar who is haunted by guilt after assassinating the rightful heir to the throne, Dimitri. The male-dominant, international cast includes tenor John Uhlenhopp as Prince Shuisky, bass Vitalij Kowaljow as Pimen and bass Vladimir Ognovenko as the vagabond Varlaam. Former San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Ji Young Yang and treble Jack Gorin are Boris Godunov's daughter, Xenia, and son, Fyodor. Tenor Vsevolod Grivnov portrays Grigory, a monk who pretends to be Dimitri; baritone Nicolai Janitzky is the secretary of the Duma, Shckelkalov, and former Adler Fellow Andrew Bidlack is the Simpleton. Making her Company debut, Julia Pevzner directs Stein Winge's production, which features work by the creative team of set designer Göran Wassberg, costume designer Kari Gravklev and lighting designer Duane Schuler. Russian conductor Vassily Sinaisky leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra for the first time and San Francisco Opera Chorus Director Ian Robertson prepares the chorus for the grand Coronation Scene with members of the cast and the San Francisco Girls and Boys choruses. San Francisco Classical Voice hails, "This truly grand opera, a Russian national treasure, is a masterpiece." Boris Godunov is performed in Russian with English subtitles and has an approximate running time of 2 hours, 20 minutes.