La Monnaie / De Munt LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT
© Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters
Opera

Boris Godunov
Modest Petrovitch Musorgsky
Alain Altinoglu, Vasily Barkhatov

Presentation
Opera

Russia, at the dawn of the seventeenth century. Following the murder of Tsarevich Dmitry, son of Ivan the Terrible, the people long for a ruler who can put an end to hunger and oppression. Boyar Boris Godunov is installed on the throne, but doubts about his involvement in the murder undermine his power. He himself is consumed by remorse …

Modest Musorgsky adapted Pushkin’s historical chronicle of this turbulent period into an unparalleled masterpiece, putting his musical language at the service of Pushkin’s words and turning the chorus into a truly dramatic character. La Monnaie presents Musorgsky’s first version of Boris Godunov (1869), in which the narrative unfolds inexorably. In Vasily Barkhatov’s production, Godunov is not only a tormented ruler, but also a loving father, embroiled in eternal power games. After such productions as The Tale of Tsar Saltan and Yevgeny Onegin, Alain Altinoglu’s craftsmanship in this repertoire needs no introduction.

Are you under 30? Then attend this opera on the Young Opera Night (18.6.2027) and we treat you to a personal welcome, a free drink, a free digital programme book and an after-event or other surprise.

Dates & tickets

 – 

Location

La Monnaie

Prices

Start ticket sale 27.11.2026

Language

Sung in Russian
Surtitles in Dutch, French and English

Presentation

Introductory talks 45' before the start of the performance

More info

This production is dedicated to José van Dam, who performed the title role in an inimitable manner at La Monnaie in 1986, 1988 and 2006.

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Dates & tickets

Dates

Cast
Cast

Opera in four parts and seven scenes
Libretto and music by Modest Petrovich Musorgsky,
adapted from the historical tragedy by
Alexander Pushkin
Premiere State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet,
Leningrad, 16.2.1928 (1869 version)

ConductorALAIN ALTINOGLU,
DMITRY MATVIENKO (18.6) DirectorVASILY BARKHATOV Set DesignerZINOVY MARGOLIN Costume DesignerOLGA SHAISHMELASHVILI Lighting DesignerALEXANDER SIVAEV Chorus MasterEMMANUEL TRENQUE

Boris GodunovDMITRY ULYANOV FyodorIURII IUSHKEVICH XeniaVLADA KOIEVA Prince Vasily Ivanovich ShuyskySERGEY POLYAKOV Andrey ShchelkalovALIK ABDUKAYUMOV PimenANTE JERKUNICA GrigoryMIHAILS ČUĻPAJEVS VarlaamILIA KAZAKOV Missail / Holy FoolFILIPP VARIK NikitichROMAN IALCIC InnkeeperLOTTE VERSTAEN° Xenia’s wet nurseLINSEY COPPENS MityukhaBYOUNGJIN LEE

La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
La Monnaie Children's and Youth Choirs, prepared by Benoît Giaux

° MM Laureate

CoproductionOPÉRA NATIONAL DE LYON,
DE MUNT / LA MONNAIE