In this Mussorgsky masterpiece, a Russian ruler is haunted by a horrible act he committed years earlier. The concise original version of the opera, focusing on the emotional disintegration of the title character, creates a theatrical experience of searing intensity. Samuel Ramey, recipient of the 2003 San Francisco Opera Medal, returns in the title role. The Washington Post raved: “His electrical presence, his bounding athleticism, his keen intelligence, his dark and chimerically versatile bass voice were all put to the noblest of purposes: a fully fleshed-out, highly complicated portrayal of the flawed Czar.”

• Approximate running time: 3 hours including one intermission
• Sung in Russian with English supertitles


• Originally produced by the Grand Théâtre de Genève
• Company Sponsor Mrs. Edmund W. Littlefield is proud to support this production. This production is made possible, in part, by The Bernard Osher Endowment Fund.
• Production photo: Ted Washington, courtesy of Houston Grand Opera
• Cast, program and schedule are subject to change

Performances

• Wed Oct 22 2008   7:30 pm
• Thu Oct 30 2008   7:30 pm
• Sun Nov 2 2008   2 pm
• Tue Nov 4 2008   8 pm
• Fri Nov 7 2008   8 pm High-definition video projection screens will be featured on the balcony level for this performance.

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• Wed Nov 12 2008   7:30 pm High-definition video projection screens will be featured on the balcony level for this performance.

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• Sat Nov 15 2008   8 pm High-definition video projection screens will be featured on the balcony level for this performance.

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Cast

Production