Prom 2: 16 Jul 2016 - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov

**bluestateprommer** · 18-07-16, 18:24

Well, the review from The Arts Desk solved one mystery for me, namely the sound of spoons in the tavern scene:

Prom 2: Boris Godunov, Royal Opera, Pappano

http://www.theartsdesk.com/classical-music/prom-2-boris-godunov-royal-opera-pappano

The Royal Opera’s Boris Godunov production made the short trip from Covent Garden to South Ken for the company’s appearance at the 2016 Proms. The opera (here in its original 1869 version) is a good choice for concert presentation: as Antonio Pappano writes in the programme, much of its music approaches oratorio. That is particularly true of the choral numbers, and the work is a tour de force for the Royal Opera Chorus. But every aspect of the music is this production is strong, so the gains balanced the losses, despite the minimal visual presentation.

"[Andrei] Goniukov had been made up (make-up another of the few visual elements retained) to look almost identical to Tomlinson in the role, long beard and all. His double act with Harry Nicoll’s Missail – playing spoons – was pitch perfect."

The delayed HD relay of the ROH BG never got to my neck of the woods, so I wouldn't have known about that bit of stage business in advance.

Prom 2: 16 Jul 2016 - Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov

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