Songs
6. Stikhi, sochinennïye noch'yu vo vremya bessonnitsï, 'Lines written during a sleepless night'
by Benjamin Britten From Ekho poeta, 'The poet's echo' (1965) Op. 76
Text & Translation
6. Stikhi, sochinennïye noch'yu vo vremya bessonnitsï, 'Lines written during a sleepless night'
Russian source:
Alexander Pushkin
Vsyudu mrak i son dokuchnïy.
Khod chasov lish´ odnozvuchnïy
Razdayotsya bliz menya,
Parki bab´ye lepetan´ye,
Spyashchey nochi trepetan´ye,
Zhizni mïsh´ya begotnya …
Chto trevozhish´ tï menya?
Chto tï znachish´, skuchnïy shopot?
Ukorizna, ili ropot
Mnoy utrachennogo dnya?
Ot menya chego tï khochesh´?
Tï zovyosh´ ili prorochish´?
Ya ponyat´ tebya khochu,
Smïsla ya v tebe ishchu …
Verses composed at night, during insomnia
English translation ©
Philip Ross Bullock
All around is gloom and tedious slumber.
Monotonously, a clock
Ticks somewhere nearby,
Fate, prattling like an old crone,
Night, quivering as it sleeps,
Life, scurrying like a mouse…
Why do you bother me?
What is the meaning of this dull whisper?
Is it a reproach, or at least some grumble
At the day I’ve wasted?
What is that you want from me?
Do you summon me? Or is this some prophecy?
I wish I could understand you,
I seek some meaning in you…
6. Stikhi, sochinennïye noch'yu vo vremya bessonnitsï, 'Lines written during a sleepless night'
Russian source:
Alexander Pushkin
Verses composed at night, during insomnia
English source:
Philip Ross Bullock
Mne ne spitsya, net ognya;
I cannot sleep, there is no light;
Vsyudu mrak i son dokuchnïy.
All around is gloom and tedious slumber.
Khod chasov lish´ odnozvuchnïy
Monotonously, a clock
Razdayotsya bliz menya,
Ticks somewhere nearby,
Parki bab´ye lepetan´ye,
Fate, prattling like an old crone,
Spyashchey nochi trepetan´ye,
Night, quivering as it sleeps,
Zhizni mïsh´ya begotnya …
Life, scurrying like a mouse…
Chto trevozhish´ tï menya?
Why do you bother me?
Chto tï znachish´, skuchnïy shopot?
What is the meaning of this dull whisper?
Ukorizna, ili ropot
Is it a reproach, or at least some grumble
Mnoy utrachennogo dnya?
At the day I’ve wasted?
Ot menya chego tï khochesh´?
What is that you want from me?
Tï zovyosh´ ili prorochish´?
Do you summon me? Or is this some prophecy?
Ya ponyat´ tebya khochu,
I wish I could understand you,
Smïsla ya v tebe ishchu …
I seek some meaning in you…
Composer
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British classical music, with a range of works including opera, other vocal music,…
Poet
Alexander Pushkin
Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (6 June 1799 – 10 February 1837) was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. Pushkin was born…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 68. Mastercourse Day Five 28 Oct 2022
- 64. Mastercourse Day Four 27 Oct 2022
- 58. Mastercourse Day Three 26 Oct 2022
- 54. Mastercourse Day Two 25 Oct 2022
- 50. Mastercourse Day One 24 Oct 2022
- 11. Cold War, Warm Hearts - Isaiah Berlin: Between Russia and Oxford 16 Oct 2022