The action of Mussorgsky’s work of art spreads out on the record-breaking 1700 m2.

On the stage with the size of Arena di Verona will take place the historical drama “Boris Godunov” by Modest Mussorgsky – the newest project of the director Plamen Kartaloff, who is using the natural sets of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The stage has impressed with its size – 50 metres length to 36.5 metres depth – the world-known director, who in the beginning of June was again in Sofia.

“With this production of “Boris Godunov” we have built a new altar to the opera – in front of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, pointed out Maestro Plamen Kartaloff before journalists before the rehearsals for the premiere spectacles. They will take place on 27, 28, 29 June, 3 and 4 July at 21.00 h. In the production are used real and hyperbolical symbols. Alive birches live together on the stage with Russian orthodox icons and giant rails, turned in bloody crimson. They are influenced by the black and white graphic “Rails to Heaven” of the artist Boyan Donev. “Inspired by this graphic, I have worked out my concept about the scenography of the production. Another significant image is the map of the Russian Empire from the time of King Boris Godunov. We have created it knowing about the passion of his son Fyodor for cartography. And the most majestic set is the temple”, pointed out Kartaloff. He revealed that the scene with Boris Godunov’s coronation will begin from the narthex of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Inserted is an episode which doesn’t exist in the original libretto – Boris Godunov will be crowned before the people by patriarch Job, whose role will be performed by the well-known actor Stoyan Aleksiev. In the story lines is built-in also the authentic sound of the bells of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, 90 years of the sanctification of which we are celebrating this year.

Different from most versions of the opera “Boris Godunov” is its Sofia end – ascension through the temple instead of death of the dead from pain Russian ruler. Each of the spectacles will start with a monk, who with clapper will announce the beginning. But before the sound of the first chords, the audience will listen to Boris Christoff’s voice with his unique chants. The premiere is dedicated to his 100th Anniversary, as well as to the 85th Anniversary of Nicolai Ghiaurov and in Nicola Ghiuselev’s memory.

In the production is used the first original version of the opera from 1869, rejected at that time by the emperor’s censorship, told the conductor Konstantin Chudovsky, who will be on the stand on 27, 28 and 29 June. He has participated in several realisations of the same piece of art, but this one meets most completely his idea of “Boris Godunov“. Unique in the production of today will be the lightning and the sound, work of exceptional professionals from Slovenia and Cyprus. The spectacles on 3 and 4 July will conduct Boris Spasov. In the main roles will take place Svetozar Rangelov and Martin Tsonev.
According to the director Plamen Kartaloff, the spectators will probably discover metaphors and references to today. The rumours, the hunger, the disasters, the foreign interference, characteristic for the “troubled times” of Boris Godunov’s reign, led to decline of the state and of his ruling.

There is quite a lot mystic around the spectacle. One of the reasons for the hunger in Russia are the sudden climatic changes, caused by the catastrophic eruption of the volcano in Chilli in 1600. And the guest-conductor of the spectacle, the Russian Konstantin Chudovsky, is at the moment chief conductor of the Philharmonic in Santiago de Chilli, where he is bearer of the Award of the Critique for 2012 for his participation in “Boris Godunov”.
The author of the masterpiece Modest Mussorgsky was buried in Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. The production of today, which coincides with his 175th Anniversary, will be in front of the Sofia temple of the same name.

The opera “Boris Godunov” in the open air is under the patronage of the Mayor of Sofia Municipality Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova and it is an important part of the cultural program of the Capital, in support of the candidature of Sofia for European Capital of Culture in 2019. The premiere of Mussorgsky’s famous work of art became possible thanks to the kind support of the Ministry of Culture.

The spectacles of “Boris Godunov” are realized with the financial support of United Bulgarian Bank, Sopharma, PIS Petrol, Altinbaș and with the special cooperation of Masha Ilieva Ballet School – the young ballet of Bulgaria. Armeec AD is the official insurance company of the event. The project was financed by Programme “Culture” of the Capital of Sofia Municipality for 2014 and it is realized in support of the candidature of Sofia and the Southwest region for European Capital of Culture – 2019. Media partners are the Bulgarian National Television, the Bulgarian National Radio and Netinfo.