Mark Reizen- Dosifey’s 5th act aria+scene from Khovanshchina

The great Ukrainian-born Jewish bass Mark Reizen (1895-1992) sings the 5th act aria (’Here, on this holy spot’) of Dosifey, leader of the Old Believers, in Mussorgsky’s “Khovanshchina“. Taken from a late 1950’s Mosfilm version of the opera (directed by Vera Stroyeva), this video captures Reizen towards the end of his distinguished stage career. The aria and following scene were severely abridged for the film, but the sonorous voice is in top form, and (as always) Reizen’s singing and presence are absolutely authoritative.