Boris Christoff will always be associated with Russian patriarchs. His imposing stature and resonant bass voice made him an ideal embodiment of that archetype, whether as the tormented Boris in Boris Godunov or the hapless King Dodon in Le Coq d’or. Here he takes on the role of Dosifey, head of the schismatics, and renders the part with power and poise.

In the title role, Mario Petri offers a finely judged counterpart to Christoff’s energy, matching him with both tonal beauty and gravitas that sustain the dramatic balance of the performance.