Royal Opera Revives Boris Godunov in Raw 1869 Version With Bryn Terfel Returning

Overview

• The 2016 Richard Jones production returns to Covent Garden for a third revival, running at the Royal Opera House to 18 February.
• Mark Wigglesworth leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera in Mussorgsky’s original 1869 score, favored for its raw, austere character.
• Critics highlight the staging’s psychological focus on Boris’s guilt and collapse, yielding a stark, concentrated drama.
• Bryn Terfel’s reprise earns strong notices for vocal authority and a haunted, nuanced portrayal.
• The revival credits Ben Mills, with Miriam Buether’s two-level set, a prominent Royal Opera Chorus, and notable turns from Adam Palka, Andrii Kymach, Jamez McCorkle, Alexander Roslavets and treble Robert Berry-Roe.