Editing Boris Godunov (opera) (section)

===Part 4 / Act 4===
[[File:Boris Godunov Vasiliy Blazhenniy Bolshoy 1927.jpg|thumb|left|The Cathedral of Vasiliy the Blessed. Bolshoy Theatre (1927)]]

''Scene 1 [1869 Version only]: The Square before the Cathedral of Vasiliy the Blessed in Moscow (1605)''

A crowd mills about before the [[Saint Basil's Cathedral|Cathedral of the Intercession]] (the Temple of [[Basil Fool for Christ|Vasiliy the Blessed]]) in [[Red Square]]. Many are beggars, and policemen occasionally appear. A group of men enters, discussing the [[anathema]] the [[deacon]] had declared on [[False Dmitri I|Grishka (Grigoriy) Otrepyev]] in the mass. They identify Grishka as the Tsarevich. With growing excitement they sing of the advance of his forces to Kromï, of his intent to retake his father's throne, and of the defeat he will deal to the Godunovs. A [[Yurodivy#Eastern Christianity|yuródivïy]] enters, pursued by urchins. He sings a nonsensical song ("The moon is flying, the kitten is crying"). The urchins greet him and rap on his metal hat. The yuródivïy has a [[Russian ruble|kopek]], which the urchins promptly steal. He whines pathetically. Boris and his retinue exit the cathedral. The boyars distribute [[alms]]. In a powerful chorus ("Benefactor father... Give us bread!"), the hungry people beg for bread. As the chorus subsides, the yuródivïy's cries are heard. Boris asks why he cries. The yuródivïy reports the theft of his kopek and asks Boris to order the boys' slaughter, just as he did in the case of the Tsarevich. Shuysky wants the yuródivïy seized, but Boris instead asks for the holy man's prayers. As Boris exits, the yuródivïy declares that the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mother of God]] will not allow him to pray for [[Herod the Great|Tsar Herod]] (see [[Massacre of the Innocents]]). The yuródivïy then sings his lament ("Flow, flow, bitter tears!") about the fate of Russia.

[[File:Shishkov - Palace of Facets.jpg|thumb|Shishkov's design for the Faceted Palace Scene (1870)]]
''Scene 2 [1869 Version] / Scene 1 [1872 version]: The [[Palace of Facets|Faceted Palace]] in the [[Moscow Kremlin]] (1605)''

A session of the [[Duma]] is in progress.
:[''Original 1869 Version only:'' The assembled boyars listen as [[Vasily and Andrey Shchelkalov|Shchelkalov]], reading the Tsar's [[ukase|ukaz]] (edict), informs them of the [[Pretender]]'s claim to the throne of Russia, and requests they pass judgment on him.]
After some arguments, the boyars agree ("Well, let's put it to a vote, boyars"), in a powerful chorus, that the Pretender and his sympathizers should be executed. [[Vasily IV|Shuysky]], whom they distrust, arrives with an interesting story. Upon leaving the Tsar's presence, he observed Boris attempting to drive away the ghost of the dead Tsarevich, exclaiming: "Begone, begone child!" The boyars accuse Shuysky of spreading lies. However, a dishevelled Boris now enters, echoing Shuysky: "Begone child!" The boyars are horrified. After Boris comes to his senses, Shuysky informs him that a humble old man craves an audience. Pimen enters and tells the story ("One day, at the evening hour") of a blind man who heard the voice of the Tsarevich in a dream. Dmitry instructed him to go to [[Uglich]] and pray at his grave, for he has become a miracle worker in heaven. The man did as instructed and regained his sight. This story is the final blow for Boris. He calls for his son, declares he is dying ("Farewell, my son, I am dying"), gives Fyodor final counsel, and prays for God's blessing on his children. In a very dramatic scene ("The bell! The funeral bell!"), he dies.

''Scene 2 [1872 Version only]: A Forest Glade near [[Kromi|Kromï]] (1605)''

Tempestuous music accompanies the entry of a crowd of vagabonds who have captured the boyar Khrushchov. The crowd taunts him, then bows in mock homage ("Not a falcon flying in the heavens"). The [[Yurodivy#Eastern Christianity|yuródivïy]] enters, pursued by urchins. He sings a nonsensical song ("The moon is flying, the kitten is crying"). The urchins greet him and rap on his metal hat. The yuródivïy has a kopek, which the urchins promptly steal. He whines pathetically. Varlaam and Misail are heard in the distance singing of the crimes of Boris and his henchmen ("The sun and moon have gone dark"). They enter. The crowd gets worked up to a frenzy ("Our bold daring has broken free, gone on a rampage") denouncing Boris. Two Jesuits are heard in the distance chanting in Latin ("Domine, Domine, salvum fac"), praying that God will save Dmitriy. They enter. At the instigation of Varlaam and Misail, the vagabonds prepare to hang the Jesuits, who appeal to the [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Holy Virgin]] for aid. Processional music heralds the arrival of Dmitriy and his forces. Varlaam and Misail glorify him ("Glory to thee, Tsarevich!") along with the crowd. The Pretender calls those persecuted by Godunov to his side. He frees Khrushchov, and calls on all to march on Moscow. All exeunt except the yuródivïy, who sings a plaintive song ("Flow, flow, bitter tears!") of the arrival of the enemy and of woe to Russia.
[[File:Mussorgsky Letter105 To Stasov 1.jpg|thumb|center|500px|From Mussorgsky's [[s:ru:Письмо М. П. Мусоргского – В. В. Стасову 12 июля 1872 г.|letter of 13 July 1872]] to Vladimir Stasov: A citation from the closing bars of the opera (1872 version). The upper part depicts desolation; the lower, weeping. The inscription is a line from the yuródivïy's lament:<br />{{center|«Скоро врагъ придётъ и настанетъ тьма»<br />"Soon the enemy will arrive and darkness will come"}}]]