This is the first video I ever saw of Boris Christoff years ago in a documentary about the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. I was stunned! From the second it started I was glued to the screen! The electrifying quality of his performance was like a shock compared to anything I had experienced in opera before - live or on video. He leaves no expressive means unexplored - his voice colour changes with every new phrase, his eyes are full of terror, then of tenderness and sorrow, his gestures are free and expressive. It is all beautiful, mesmerising and unforgettable! I am so envious of those who have had the honour of seeing his in this role live. He gave it his all! A true God on the operatic Olympus!
His voice is clear as a bell not woofy like some horrible voices I hear some comments on him having a small voice I think that’s irrelevant if it’s true I’d rather listen more intently to a beautiful singer than want to cover my ears from a big ugly uninteresting performer Christoff is an ARTIST
Some iconoclast below thinks Christoff had a SMALL voice. What a total idiot he must be to say such a thing in this post for all to see. I suggest he listen to Christoff in the Coronation Scene when he opens it up to triple forte, or the great Act 2 aria when he carries that full resonance right up to high G-flat. His voice had an ENORMOUS dynamic range. When he sang softly, it was totally resonant and never woofy. When he sang loudly he sang totally open (like Chaliapin) and the resonance was even greater. He was one of the truly supreme singers in history, and sounded almost exactly like he sounds here even when he was past 70 (this same excerpt is on RUclips from a concert dress rehearsal the 1990's). When asked what the secret to her vocal longevity was, the great Ernestine Schumann-Heink's answer was, "I learned not to shout." Here endeth the lesson...
Let's not forget the great Russian basso, Feodor Chaliapin, who essentially made this performance the standard for all future bases who take on this challenging role. You can hear Chaliapin on a RUclips clip - old recordings but still pretty good.
@@dimitarkamukov7989 , erano due cantanti differenti. Schal8apin spesso rovinata il canto con dei brutti effetti. Christoff era perfetto e in questi ruoli insostituibile e non ancora superato.
E' bello rimanere senza parole davanti alla perfezione. Nella grandezza di Christoff voce e interpretazione ci costringono a riconoscere la potenza dell'Arte. It's wonderful not to have any words in front of perfection. In the Christoff's greatness voice and interpretation force us to join the power of Art. Ermanno G., Tollegno, Italy ermannoge@teletu.it
Ah ! Ces Voix Russes magnifiques. Je possède plusieurs versions de cet Opéra (videos, disques) que j’aime particulièrement sans également car j’aime pro l’Histoire de la Russie. ❤️🇷🇺❤️🇷🇺❤️🇷🇺❤️🇷🇺❤️
I wonder if you are Joseph Shore the Baritone if so I am surprised Yours is the only negative comment here Surely the size of a voice if it is audible and beautiful and artistic carries more importance than someone who can peel paint of a wall If this is you I’ve heard your voice and it is GLORIOUS almost too good to be true !
This is the first video I ever saw of Boris Christoff years ago in a documentary about the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. I was stunned! From the second it started I was glued to the screen! The electrifying quality of his performance was like a shock compared to anything I had experienced in opera before - live or on video. He leaves no expressive means unexplored - his voice colour changes with every new phrase, his eyes are full of terror, then of tenderness and sorrow, his gestures are free and expressive. It is all beautiful, mesmerising and unforgettable! I am so envious of those who have had the honour of seeing his in this role live. He gave it his all! A true God on the operatic Olympus!
This is NOT a small voice nor overacting..this is opera in the true sense of the word..!!!! Unique and splendid!!
I have a long play on boris chrisstoff , he is big perfect a voice
CHRISTOFF shows that he was in his own class,no one come close to this Great acting bass..the very BEST!!
При таком Талантище опера становится Высочайшим Искусством для любого зрителя! Спасибо!
Truly unforgettable! Boris Christoff is my favorite performer of this tremendous role...
Mine too
This is one of the performances that I carry lovingly in my memory! I was smitten by his tender mezza voce!
Un artiste immense, une voix extraordinaire ❤️❤️❤️
I so loved this performance. One of my very first LP Records
Sublime! A dark dramatic bass. Christoff was a force of nature.
i was fortunate enough as a small boy to witness him as Boris in Chicago - i never got over it
Amazing! I've never seen that before. Many thanks for posting. Priceless footage.
one of the best performance of boris godunov, hristof is the best in the world in that role nobody can sing as he does
His voice is clear as a bell not woofy like some horrible voices I hear some comments on him having a small voice I think that’s irrelevant if it’s true I’d rather listen more intently to a beautiful singer than want to cover my ears from a big ugly uninteresting performer
Christoff is an ARTIST
Some iconoclast below thinks Christoff had a SMALL voice. What a total idiot he must be to say such a thing in this post for all to see. I suggest he listen to Christoff in the Coronation Scene when he opens it up to triple forte, or the great Act 2 aria when he carries that full resonance right up to high G-flat. His voice had an ENORMOUS dynamic range. When he sang softly, it was totally resonant and never woofy. When he sang loudly he sang totally open (like Chaliapin) and the resonance was even greater. He was one of the truly supreme singers in history, and sounded almost exactly like he sounds here even when he was past 70 (this same excerpt is on RUclips from a concert dress rehearsal the 1990's). When asked what the secret to her vocal longevity was, the great Ernestine Schumann-Heink's answer was, "I learned not to shout." Here endeth the lesson...
Уникално! Браво!
moving and beautifully sung.
I don't think anyone has sung and acted this better.
formidable!
MAGNIFICENT ! SO GREAT BORIS CHRISTOFF ! ! !
Glorious. Really fine sound quality too.
My great grandfather
Kolten Christoff. I'm sorry but Boris Christoff has no heirs. I live in Sofia 100 meters from his home.
Seriously? You got to hear him speak. You are blessed.
QUE GRANDE MOMENTO LÍRICO E QUE VOZ PAR UMA PEÇA ABSOLUTAMENTE ÚNICA.
ESTE BÚLGARO ESTÁ MUITO PERTO DO CÉU.
Une immense basse inoubliable !
greatest...of the greatest...brava bravissimo...!!!
Fantastic presentation, magnificent voice. See my comments in part II.
БОРИС ХРИСТОВ - ГЕНИАЛЕН БЪЛГАРИН! ПОКЛОН!
magnifico .
Magnificent!
Nada que añadir, FANTASTICO.
I heard him singing this scene in concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1958. I don't recall his voice sounding especially small.
Magnifico!
Най великия бас.Поклон
Let's not forget the great Russian basso, Feodor Chaliapin, who essentially made this performance the standard for all future bases who take on this challenging role. You can hear Chaliapin on a RUclips clip - old recordings but still pretty good.
Едно,допълнение.Борис Христов никога не се е сравнявал със Шаляпин.Да велик бас е Шаляпин.Различни години.Борис Христов е един и незаменим.
@@dimitarkamukov7989 и Гяуров също.
I love Chaliapin's version!
@@ina5587 I saw Nicolai Ghiaurov perform Boris with the San Francisco Opera in the early Eighties. Fabulous!
@@dimitarkamukov7989 , erano due cantanti differenti. Schal8apin spesso rovinata il canto con dei brutti effetti. Christoff era perfetto e in questi ruoli insostituibile e non ancora superato.
Universelle,unique,même sensibilité,intense dans le dramatique qu une Maria Callas. Aura t on les mêmes voix au paradis,je le souhaite.
Fabulous
Великий Борис !
Велик българин.
@@a.s.7696The great Bulgarian Boris Christoff and the great Russian Modest Mussorgsky.
Not sure if I like him or Talvela better, both bring different gifts, both excellent
Un grandissimo
The best Boris Godounov!
E' bello rimanere senza parole davanti alla perfezione.
Nella grandezza di Christoff voce e interpretazione ci costringono a riconoscere la potenza dell'Arte.
It's wonderful not to have any words in front of perfection. In the Christoff's greatness voice and interpretation force us to join the power of Art.
Ermanno G., Tollegno, Italy
ermannoge@teletu.it
I adore this.
Ah ! Ces Voix Russes magnifiques.
Je possède plusieurs versions de cet Opéra (videos, disques) que j’aime particulièrement sans également car j’aime pro l’Histoire de la Russie.
❤️🇷🇺❤️🇷🇺❤️🇷🇺❤️🇷🇺❤️
Es un recuerdo, porque fueron grandes y unicos...
EINER DER BESTEN IN DIESER ROLLE
grossartig
NICE...................
Christoff et Chaliapine excellaient dans Boris 🙏🏻😢❤️
И каква дикция!
Блестящий бас!!!
Това е най-великият български оперен певец
ESPLENDIDO
La mejor voz de bajo del siglo XX
I.have 1 long play about boris christoff
Он же не русским был, но я понимаю каждое слово, которое он пропевает, при этом я не понимаю большинство слов, что поют современные певцы русские
HIER BIETET CHRISTOFF EINE EINZIGARTIGE LEISTUNG
Bassi di oggi, andate a nascondervi.
Do you understand that he had a SMALL voice? This was not a big voice.
Your an idiot
I wonder if you are Joseph Shore the Baritone if so I am surprised
Yours is the only negative comment here
Surely the size of a voice if it is audible and beautiful and artistic carries more importance than someone who can peel paint of a wall
If this is you I’ve heard your voice and it is GLORIOUS almost too good to be true !