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Boris Godunov (Theatre)

 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
type
TVTItem
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
label
Boris Godunov (Theatre)
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
page
BorisGodunov
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
comment
Boris Godunov is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky, the only complete opera of the composer. It had its premiere in 1874, although some fragments of the music were performed before that. The composition history is very twisted, with two main versions (completed in 1869 and 1872 respectively) written by Mussorgsky, not counting the many recompositions and reorchestrations by other authors. Even the composer's two different versions are often conflated in modern productions.The opera is based on Alexander Pushkin's play of the same name, but is currently much better-known than the play itself.The plot takes place in an extremely turbulent period in Russian history, known as the Time of Troubles. The backstory runs as follows: Boris Godunov reigned in all but name in the times of the quiet and feeble Tsar Fyodor, son of Ivan the Terrible. However, Boris plotted to seize the throne for himself, for which purpose he ordered the murder of Fyodor's little brother Dimitry (it is still doubtful whether he was the culprit in Real Life). By the beginning of the opera's prologue, Fyodor has died, and Boris's allies bully the crowds into cheering for Boris's coronation. Newly crowned, Boris swears to rule fairly and justly.However, not everybody is deceived. Pimen, the chronicler of the Chudov Monastery, knows about Boris's crime and tells his pupil, young Grigory, about it. Grigory feels restless in the quiet monastery life, and from Pimen's tale he learns he is the same age as the murdered Tsarevich Dimitry. Getting the idea of posing as the miraculously survived heir to the throne, he runs away. On the border of Lithuania, he is caught and almost arrested, but manages to escape.Fast forward several years. Boris is deeply troubled by his conscience and realizes he hasn't found any happiness in achieving the highest power in the land. He desperately tries to find solace with his beloved family, especially his little son Fyodor, both studious and good-humored. The cunning Evil Chancellor Prince Shuysky brings news of a Pretender styling himself Dimitry.Meanwhile in Poland, the Pretender, formerly known as Grigory, gathers supporters. He awakens the passion and ambition of Proud Beauty Marina Mniszech, daughter of the Voyevoda of Sandomierz, who encourages him to seize Boris's crown and dreams to become the Tsarina. Marina, in turn, is manipulated by the Jesuit Rangoni, who threatens her with eternal damnation unless she gains the Russian crown and converts the Muscovites to Catholicism.Back in Moscow, whatever popularity Boris had earlier has dwindled completely. The hungry crowds are begging him for bread and looking forward to the arrival of "Tsarevich Dimitry". Boris himself is going mad with guilt, visions of a bloodied child troubling him day and night. When Pimen tells him the story of a blind man getting healed at the murdered Dimitry's grave, Boris collapses. He barely manages to say farewell to his son before dying. The Pretender arrives in Moscow, cheered by everyone except a Holy Fool, who weeps for the Russian land's fate and foresees dark times coming.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
fetched
2024-04-23T14:16:56Z
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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2024-04-23T14:16:56Z
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Dropped link to HistoricalDomainCharacter: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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AdaptationalPersonalityChange
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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DBTropes
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_121b3725
type
Age Lift
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_121b3725
comment
Age Lift: A minor case. The innkeeper is implied to be young in the play (Varlaam thinks Grigory is flirting with her and says Grigory needs a young lady), but is old or at least middle-aged in the opera.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_121b3725
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_121b3725
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_121b3725
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_1645005b
type
Evil Versus Evil
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_1645005b
comment
Evil Versus Evil: The main fractions in the conflict, with Boris being, if anything, A Lighter Shade of Black, as he is deeply remorseful, loves his children and genuinely wants to be a good Tsar. Dimitry says he wants to make him pay for the murder of the Tsarevich, but really he dreams of battle glory and living life to the fullest. Marina openly admits she craves power and glory and despises the "dumb Muscovites". Rangoni is a Knight Templar who tells Marina she should sacrifice her honor, if necessary, for the sake of his cause.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_1645005b
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_1645005b
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_23be181a
type
Patriotic Fervor
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_23be181a
comment
Patriotic Fervor: One of Marina's redeeming qualities is her deep love for her nation. However, it has a flip side as she looks down on other nations as a result.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_23be181a
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1.0
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_23be181a
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_33d5b7f2
type
Adapted Out
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_33d5b7f2
comment
Adapted Out: Instead of more than thirty named characters, there are only nineteen of them (including Canon Foreigner Rangoni who is absent in the play). Naturally, many of the minor characters, mostly the various nobles and other authority figures from both Russia and Poland, had to go.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_33d5b7f2
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_33d5b7f2
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_40cad744
type
Flower Motifs
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_40cad744
comment
Flower Motifs: Defied by the fiery Marina, who is very angry when her servants compare her to a flower.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_40cad744
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_40cad744
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_479d4e5a
type
Would Hurt a Child
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_479d4e5a
comment
Would Hurt a Child: Boris's murder of seven-year-old Tsarevich Dimitry is what triggers the plot and what enrages everyone who knows about it. Even Marina speaks of avenging the little kid.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_479d4e5a
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_479d4e5a
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4e6e9b64
type
A Child Shall Lead Them
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4e6e9b64
comment
A Child Shall Lead Them: As Boris dies, his son Fyodor, only in his mid-teens, is left to reign in the midst of treacheries and plots and with the Pretender approaching Moscow. Of course, Fyodor fails to keep the throne. The most tragic part of it is that he has all the promise to become a wonderful Tsar, it's just that he gets no time to mature.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4e6e9b64
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4e6e9b64
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4ef62a4d
type
Full-Circle Revolution
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4ef62a4d
comment
Full-Circle Revolution: Heavily implied when the Pretender enters Moscow. The crowds cheer for him as they did for Boris, and the last lines of the opera belong to the crying Holy Fool. Indeed, Real Life showed that the Pretender was overthrown by the boyars and commoners just like Boris.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4ef62a4d
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1.0
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_4ef62a4d
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_516f986d
type
Loving a Shadow
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_516f986d
comment
Loving a Shadow: Xenia Godunova only met her betrothed Prince Johan briefly before he died. Three years later, she still cries all day long and refuses to go out of mourning. Her nurse calls her out on it, noting that she didn't even really know Johan.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_516f986d
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_516f986d
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_5abc8612
type
Unholy Matrimony
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_5abc8612
comment
Unholy Matrimony: Dimitry is madly in love with Marina, and she admits to being attracted to him (though not without his crown and claim to the throne). They plan on reigning in Moscow together.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_5abc8612
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_5abc8612
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_5abc8612
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11
type
Innocent Soprano
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11
comment
Innocent Soprano: Xenia (notably, the only soprano in a very large cast, and her part is minor) is gentle, kind and naive, while everyone else around her is playing the game of thrones.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_66755d29
type
Author Avatar
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_66755d29
comment
Author Avatar: Downplayed, but an ancestor of Alexander Pushkin appears as one of the plotters.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_66755d29
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_66755d29
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_66755d29
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_69681e01
type
Big Brother Instinct
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_69681e01
comment
Big Brother Instinct: Inverted. Fyodor loves Xenia very much and tries to help her in her grief, and Boris on his deathbed asks him to protect her. However, Xenia is Fyodor's elder sister.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_69681e01
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_69681e01
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_69681e01
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_8af7b342
type
Sibling Yin-Yang
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_8af7b342
comment
Sibling Yin-Yang: Cheerful, energetic Fyodor and melancholy Xenia.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_8af7b342
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_8af7b342
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_8af7b342
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
type
Cross-Cast Role
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
comment
Crosscast Role: Fyodor Godunov is played by a mezzo-soprano.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_985d3ad0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9d080c44
type
Ice Queen
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9d080c44
comment
Ice Queen: Marina is compared to a marble statue.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9d080c44
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9d080c44
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9d080c44
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9de3695d
type
Alto Villainess
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9de3695d
comment
Alto Villainess: The ambitious and manipulative Marina Mniszech is sung by a mezzo-soprano. Inverted, however, with the other two deep-voiced female heroines. The innkeeper (mezzo-soprano) and the royal nurse (contralto) are both quite nice supporting characters.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9de3695d
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9de3695d
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_9de3695d
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a00c13e0
type
Awesome Moment of Crowning
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a00c13e0
comment
Awesome Moment of Crowning: Boris’s coronation concludes Act 1 in a spectacular scene with full orchestra and chorus. The score even calls for full-size church bells to peal onstage.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a00c13e0
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1.0
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a00c13e0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a2cc787
type
Externally Validated Prophecy
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a2cc787
comment
Externally Validated Prophecy: While still in the monastery, Grigory often has a dream of rising to the highest power and then getting overthrown. It happened to him in Real Life, though the opera itself ends with him rising to power.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a2cc787
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a2cc787
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a2cc787
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a91f6284
type
AngryMob
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a91f6284
comment
Angry Mob: In the final act, the crowds rebel against Boris's court and almost lynch one of Boris's boyars. They even nearly hang two Jesuits from the Pretender's escort, not realizing they are on the side of the man they support.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a91f6284
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a91f6284
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_a91f6284
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b4a6ae4c
type
Everyone Has Standards
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b4a6ae4c
comment
Everyone Has Standards: The brutal murder of Fyodor and his mother shocks the Angry Mob who were shouting death threats to him moments earlier.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b4a6ae4c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b4a6ae4c
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b4a6ae4c
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b5171e10
type
Tragic Villain
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b5171e10
comment
Tragic Villain: Boris is tormented by remorse and at least tries to rule fairly (and fails). He also genuinely loves his family and wants his son to grow up to be The Good King.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b5171e10
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1.0
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_b5171e10
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_bf1c906
type
Trophy Wife
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_bf1c906
comment
Trophy Wife: Explicitly defied by Marina. She warns the Pretender she wants to be a help and a friend to him, and not just a concubine to boss around.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_bf1c906
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_bf1c906
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_bf1c906
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_cc8109ab
type
Mistaken for Romance
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_cc8109ab
comment
Mistaken for Romance: Grigory starts asking the innkeeper about the best road across the Lithuanian border, and Varlaam thinks Grigory is flirting with the woman.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_cc8109ab
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_cc8109ab
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_cc8109ab
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
type
All Girls Want Bad Boys
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
comment
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Unlike in the play, Marina knows from the start that "Tsarevich Dimitry" is a pretender. However, that's what makes him attractive in her eyes.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db2f3581
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db7c6092
type
I Fight for the Strongest Side!
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db7c6092
comment
I Fight for the Strongest Side!: Prince Shuysky switches his allegiance to the Pretender when it becomes clear the latter is winning.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db7c6092
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1.0
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db7c6092
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_db7c6092
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_def5d614
type
Suddenly Suitable Suitor
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_def5d614
comment
Suddenly Suitable Suitor: Inverted dramatically. In a fit of passion, the Pretender confesses to Marina that he is not the real Tsarevich but a runaway monk. Marina is horrified, and it takes him quite a while to convince her to still accept his love.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_def5d614
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_def5d614
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e1acc872
type
From Nobody to Nightmare
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e1acc872
comment
From Nobody to Nightmare: Grigory begins as an unknown novice in a monastery and ends up seizing the throne.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e1acc872
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e1acc872
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e1acc872
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e6a901a3
type
Meaningful Rename
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e6a901a3
comment
Meaningful Rename: Grigory is never called Grigory again after escaping to Lithuania. It's either the Pretender or Dimitry (or False Dimitry in the play).
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e6a901a3
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_e6a901a3
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fb17af62
type
Rhymes on a Dime
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fb17af62
comment
Rhymes on a Dime: Varlaam, a runaway monk, often speaks in rhymes. His companion Misail constantly lampshades it in the play.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fb17af62
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 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fb17af62
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fb17af62
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fe48cea2
type
Lady of War
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fe48cea2
comment
Lady of War: What Marina would love to be. Her favorite songs are about the victories of Polish warriors, Polish ladies of war of the olden days, and the fallen enemies.
 Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fe48cea2
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Boris Godunov (Theatre) / int_fe48cea2
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Boris Godunov (Theatre)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
hasFeature
Adaptational Comic Relief / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Authority Sounds Deep / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Awesome Moment of Crowning / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Common Knowledge / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Grief Song / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Innocent Soprano / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Opera / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Peaceful in Death / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Revised Ending / int_fd06fd96
 Boris Godunov (Theatre)
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Run for the Border / int_fd06fd96