A Tsar in the darkness

If you're going to spend four hours in one of the darkest periods of Russian history, make sure you do it with style. The Royal Opera's production was the brainchild of Russian film director Andrei Tarkovsky and has atmosphere in bags.

Its centrepiece is an unfinished stone arch, in which a great bell appears occasionally, and around which swarms the 98-strong Royal Opera Chorus, singing with unity and sensitivity.

John Tomlinson brings humanity and urgency to Godunov's pain-wracked Tsarship. The cast also features two Russian basses who have sung the title role in the big houses: luxurious-voiced Vladimir Vaneev as saintly monk Pimen, and Vladimir Matorin as the rascally Varlaam, ably partnered by tenor Viacheslav Voynarovskiy's Missail.

The splendid Olga Borodina shines as the power-hungry Marina, while Sergei Leiferkus's sinister Rangoni chills the blood. On opening night, Sergei Larin's (pictured with Olga Borodina) eleventh-hour illness meant that Vladimir Galouzine's swordblade voice rang out as Dmitry: luxury casting. This is an epic production and there isn't a dull performance in it.

In rep until Oct 9 (next perf tomorrow), Royal Opera House, Bow Street WC2, 6.30pm, Sat 6pm, Oct 5 mat 3pm, £7 to £145. Tel: 020 7304 4000.www.royalopera.org Tube: Covent Garden

Liza Graham

Boris Godunov