When Seattle Opera first presented
Boris Godunov, in 1965, Jerome Hines sang in English. In 1978, Seattle audiences heard Nicola Ghiuselev sing the original Russian; Giorgio Tozzi, who had also sung Boris in English for NBC’s Opera Theatre, sang the English-language performances.

Nicola Ghiuselev (Boris Godunov) in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, 1978. © Stewart Reif

Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, 1978. © Stewart Reif

Geraldine Decker (The Innkeeper) in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, 1978. © Stewart Reif

Dennis Bailey (Dimitri) in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, 1978. © Stewart Reif