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Modest Mussorgsky's 19th-century opera Boris Godunov is based on Alexander Pushkin's play of the same name and tells the story of a Russian czar who murders his way to the top. Today on Soundcheck, the revered conductor Semyon Bychkov reveals how it's something more: a timeless parable of Russian history with plenty of modern-day significance. Bychkov is making his debut in this epic work after having attracted rave reviews earlier this fall when he conducted a production at Covent Garden in London. Also, we're joined by New York Times pop music critic, Kalefa Sanneh, who talks about the "golden age of the un-golden throats" – the new generation of singers, hip-hop artists, and folk balladeers who flaunt the imperfections in their voices.
Additional Resources:
• Semyon Bychkov's Web site
• The Sweet Sounds of Really Bad Singing