Day 064: Boris is good enough
36yearsago.com
Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing &
friends.
Day 64
— Boris is good enough
05-October-1971
(Tue.)
TRANSCRIPT
Typical day—much practice, much frustration.
Saw Boshoi Theater (opera) Company at the
Staatsoper.
Boris Godunov—from Moscow. Everything
was Russian—orchestra, opera, etc. Very impressive
and extremely enjoyable. The music was sometimes not
solid—by Mussorgsky (not sure).
I think what was outstanding was: (1) Russian
chorus—typical big chorus (hearty!) with a lot of
emphasis on bass. Singing Russian folk songs—very
beautiful. (2) Costumes—very elaborate. (3) General
sets and scenes also elaborate. Especially [the]
crowd scenes. The voices were good but not
fantastically outstanding. Seemingly a lot of emotion
(abrupt though, and strong) presence.
It was a fantastic performance and they received much
applause. What was somewhat humorous was that they
had a couple of photographers taking pictures of
everyone and making films. We would probably make
T.V. (Inside) I’m hoping that they are not going to
use art as a tool of propaganda.
REFLECTIONS
In 2007, one more day in Washington. Picture above is
from the National Art Gallery. Again, just an iPhone
camera picture with cropping.
My writing seems to be getting choppier. It must be
that I’m always frustrated. Looking back, I’m amazed
that I survived my youth—always being frustrated and
such. 
Bolshoi Theater Company. The
Bolshoi Theater Company from Moscow is a
world-renowned opera and ballet company. This was the
first time that I heard them perform. The performance
was fantastic. Although I don’t write about it in my
journal, I do remember a performance of the Bolshoi
in Vienna in which the finale consisted of an
incredible wall-of-sound of big brass, an immense
chorus, and symphony orchestra. I think it may have
been this performance of
Boris Godunov. I will
have to revisit this music again.
The Bolshoi was in Vienna for a short period and they
were the hot ticket in town. Now I know why.
Boris
Godunov.
This is
19th-century Russian composer, Modest Mussorgsky’s,
only opera. I was impressed by the Russian chorus,
the basses, the brass, the beautiful folk melodies of
Mussorgsky, and the elaborate costumes and sets. It
got the Viennese audience on their feet to great
applause.
Mussorgsky is most famous for his
Pictures at an Exhibition,
written
for two pianos but later transcribed for orchestra by
Maurice Ravel. Mussorgsky was a handsome dude, but he
is often portrayed by a famous painting of him later
in life where you can tell that he had one too many.
The Wikipedia link has both pictures.
Here are some Wikipedia links for you:
Bolshoi Theater
Company
Modest
Mussorgsky
Boris
Godunov
Art
as propaganda? Just
because there were photographers taking publicity
pictures, I wonder if it will be used for propaganda.
It was just a comment, or perhaps I was kidding. I
was young. You know, 36 years later, I can’t tell. If
you haven't noticed, I do practice occasional
tongue-in-cheek funniness. This is a case of "it's
hard to tell if someone is joking in their email."
What’s important here? It was a great opera.
Mussorgsky is a fine composer. The Bolshoi is an
incredible performing group—and still is today. This
opera by Mussorgsky is one to revisit.
That’s all for today.
John
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