EMI's 1977 recording of a conflation of Mussorgsky's two versions of Boris Godunov suffers from an excess of restraint and propriety. The fault lies largely with
Jerzy Semkow, who conducts the opera with Classical reserve. He seems unwilling to urge the orchestra or singers to produce a full-blooded fortissimo, or to attack the notes with ferocity when called for. His soft-edged, careful approach is exactly wrong for the opera, which needs a rough-hewn, raw power, and a propulsive dramatic energy to drive its episodic scenes into a meaningful whole. His reading lacks any sense of danger or menace; the chorus in particular sounds like an entirely pacific and happy (if large) church choir. The soloists are in universally fine voice, but in the flaccid orchestral and choral context, their dramatic impact is usually diminished. As Boris,
Martti Talvela sings beautifully, with exemplary richness and gravity, but for the most part his performance sounds more benevolent than threatening; his mad scene at the end of Act II, though, is genuinely scary and moving.
Nicolai Gedda is a heroic Dimitri, and sings lustily, with ringing, clarion tone; he actually manages to generate some musical excitement. Bozena Kinasz's Marina is warmly languid. Leonard Mróz brings depth and the necessary resonance to Pimen. The fine solo performances can't salvage
Semkow's inert reading, though. The recorded sound is clean and clear, but a little dry.