Father's Day at the Opera

Opéra Grand Avignon was finished in 1847, after the previous one was destroyed by fire. Wanting to experience the grandeur of a performance in this magnificent building, we purchased tickets for the only show that was happening while we are in town. Honestly, it was a fabulous choice!

Modest Mussorgsky’s vast 1869 opera, Boris Godunov, is centered on the historical figure who was tsar of Russia in the late 16th century, the mysteries surrounding his rise to the throne, and the uprising of the man who claimed to be Dmitry, the true heir to the throne.

Responsible for ordering the assassination of the family of the previous tsar, Boris Godunov is next in-line for the throne. For a decade he reigns over Russia, troubled by the knowledge of his unjust ascension, but believing that he has done the right thing for his family. When a young monk in a monastery learns of Boris’s crime, he decides to try and take the throne for himself. He claims to be Dmitry, the young heir to the throne that was murdered all those years ago, and draws armies from all the surrounding lands to help him return to the throne that was rightfully his.

Meanwhile, Boris’s guilt is plaguing him more and more every day, and he has started to be haunted by the child that he murdered. The news that this child has now risen from the grave to claim his birthright, and that he has armies supporting his campaign, is just too much for Boris. A visit from the elderly monk who knows the truth about Boris’s crime seals his fate: Boris suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving the throne to the imposter.

How gorgeous is this?

Steve and I are admittedly not opera goers and we read that the 2½ hour, intermission-free performance was to be sung in Russian, with only French subtitles. To prepare, we read all we could about the history of Boris. Russian history is very complicated so we were thinking it was wise that we booked tickets to a matinee (thus hopefully staying awake). Turns out, English subtitles were provided, too (circled in yellow in the above photo). Reading kept us on the edge of our seats, literally and figuratively! What a wonderfully generous gift for us monolinguals.

Alongside Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov is one of the world’s favorite Russian operas.

Neither one of us could believe how much we loved this opera. We concur with the world's opinion. The orchestra was exceptional. The staging was incredibly creative. The costuming was very believable. The theater, itself, was absolutely ideal. This was truly an unforgettable event.

Dinner was at Maison Gayte, a place we have passed numerous times in the two weeks we've been here. It was perfect. I found my new favorite salad and Steve finally got the beer he had been looking for (though looks are deceiving. It's still just a pint but boy did it have a WOW factor). I believe he had a fantastic Father's Day. I know I did.