iSound

KHOVANSHINA
The opera’s plot is based on historical research and original documents of the 17th century. Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov finished the last act was by using the drafts by Modest Mussorgsky, as well as edited and arranged the whole opera for instruments. The first performance took place February 21, 1886 on a private stage in St. Petersburg. The record of 1954 includes a series of stars of the 50s. That period in the life of the Bolshoi Theatre went down in history as its golden age. Maria Maksakova was awarded the Stalin’s prize for her role of Marfa. The singer, who didn’t have an exceptionally strong voice, managed to present her heroine in such a way that her interpretation became a benchmark and an exemplar and gave birth to a performance tradition that formed a part of Russian school of vocals.