Songs

Pesnja Ofelii

by Dmitri Shostakovich From Seven Romances on Poems of Alexander Blok (1967) Op. 127

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Text & Translation

Pesnja Ofelii
Russian source: Aleksandr Blok

Razluchajas' s devoj miloj, drug,
Ty kljalsja mne ljubit'!...
Ujezzhaja v kraj postylyj,
Kljatvu dannuju khranit'!...

Tam, za Danijej schastlivoj,
Berega tvoji vo mgle...
Val serdityj, govorlivyj
Mojet sljozy na skale...

Milyj voin ne vernjotsja,
Ves' odetyj v serebro...
V grobe tjazhko vskolykhnjotsja
Bant i chjornoje pero...

Ophelia's Song
English translation © Julie Curtis

As you parted from your dear maiden,
My friend, you swore to me of your love!..
As you left for a detested land,
You swore to keep your oath!

There, away from happy Denmark,
Your shores are in darkness...
The angry, eloquent waves
Wash tears away from the rocks...

My beloved warrior shall not return,
All in silver dressed...
In the grave the ribbon and black feather
Will droop heavily.

Pesnja Ofelii
Russian source: Aleksandr Blok

Ophelia's Song
English source: Julie Curtis

Razluchajas' s devoj miloj, drug,
As you parted from your dear maiden,
Ty kljalsja mne ljubit'!...
My friend, you swore to me of your love!..
Ujezzhaja v kraj postylyj,
As you left for a detested land,
Kljatvu dannuju khranit'!...
You swore to keep your oath!

Tam, za Danijej schastlivoj,
There, away from happy Denmark,
Berega tvoji vo mgle...
Your shores are in darkness...
Val serdityj, govorlivyj
The angry, eloquent waves
Mojet sljozy na skale...
Wash tears away from the rocks...

Milyj voin ne vernjotsja,
My beloved warrior shall not return,
Ves' odetyj v serebro...
All in silver dressed...
V grobe tjazhko vskolykhnjotsja
In the grave the ribbon and black feather
Bant i chjornoje pero...
Will droop heavily.

Composer

Dmitri Shostakovich

Dmitri Shostakovich was a Russian composer and pianist. He achieved fame in the Soviet Union, although later developed a more complex and difficult relationship with the government. As a composer, he combined a variety of different musical…

Poet

Aleksandr Blok

Alexander Alexandrovich Blok was a Russian lyrical poet, writer, publicist, playwright, translator, literary critic.

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