Boris Godunov

Synopsis

SCENE 1

Boris Godunov has retreated to the Novodevichy Monastery. A crowd gathers outside, and a policeman orders them to entreat Boris to accept the throne. Shchelkalov, clerk of the Boyars’ Council, tells the crowd that Boris is reluctant to take the throne. Pilgrims join the entreaties to Boris.

SCENE 2

Boris is crowned Tsar. Boris invites everyone to a great feast. Years pass. Russia prospers, and Boris proves to be a good and wise ruler. Then, unexpectedly, there is famine. Some believe that this is divine punishment for Boris’ alleged murder of Tsarevich Dmitry.

SCENE 3

In the Kremlin, the monk Pimen is writing a chronicle of Russian history. The novice Grigory regrets his choice of career and envies Pimen’s eventful youth. Pimen reminisces about Ivan the Terrible and Ivan’s son Fyodor. He denounces Boris as Tsarevich Dmitry’s murderer. Hearing that Dmitry resembled him and was about his own age, Grigory plots to impersonate the Tsarevich and stir up rebellion.

SCENE 4

Grigory (now in secular clothes) arrives at an inn near the Lithuanian border with the monks Varlaam and Missail. Guards arrive, searching for a fugitive rebel monk (Grigory). When Grigory realizes that the Frontier Guard cannot read, he reads out the edict, describing the fugitive as resembling Varlaam, rather than himself. Varlaam protests his innocence, and reads the edict correctly. Grigory escapes.

SCENE 5

In the Tsar’s apartments, Boris’s daughter Xenia laments the early death of her fiancé, while her brother Fyodor studies a map of Russia. Boris reflects on his achievements as ruler. Prince Shuisky announces that a Pretender, calling himself the Tsarevich Dmitry, is gathering support in Lithuania. Boris orders Shuisky to seal the border and asks for proof of Dmitry’s death. Shuisky confirms that he saw Dmitry’s corpse, but suggests that it may have miraculous powers. Boris orders Shuisky to leave. Alone, he hallucinates visions of the dead Dmitry.

SCENE 6

Outside St Basil’s Cathedral, the crowd comments on the official denunciation of the Pretender Grishka (Grigory) Otrepiev that they have heard at Mass. A Holy Fool sings a nonsensical song. Boris and his retinue leave the Cathedral and the hungry crowd begs for bread. The Holy Fool suggests Boris ordered the murder of Tsarevich Dmitry. Shuisky demands the Holy Fool’s arrest, but Boris instead asks the Holy Fool to pray for him. The Holy Fool refuses to pray for ‘Tsar Herod’ and laments the fate of Russia.

SCENE 7

At the Kremlin, Shuisky and the Boyars’ Council order the execution of Grigory and his followers. Boris appears, still in the grip of his hallucination. Pimen informs Boris that the Tsarevich Dmitry has become a saint from beyond the grave, and cured an old man’s blindness. Boris collapses and calls for his son Fyodor. He names Fyodor as his heir, begs forgiveness and dies.