Debut at Opéra National de Lyon

Vitali Alekseenok has made his debut at Opéra National de Lyon with a new production of Boris Godunov, exploring Mussorgsky’s original 1869 version of the opera.

During his preparations, Alekseenok discovered that there are not two, but eight distinct versions of the opera, each with its own dramaturgy and musical language. The original version, however, stands apart for its uncompromising focus on Boris himself — his inner conflict, conscience, and ultimate psychological collapse. Unlike later revisions, it contains almost no female roles and avoids conventional love stories, centering instead on themes of power, guilt, and paternal love.

His research also revealed surprising connections to Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, and especially Hector Berlioz, whose influence on Mussorgsky feels particularly resonant in Lyon, close to Berlioz’s birthplace.

“Performing Boris with a French orchestra feels like tracing part of this extraordinary path,” Alekseenok said.