Text & Translation
The Stars
Russian source:
Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet
V dalyokie zvyozdy vglyadyas’,
Mezh temi zvezdami i mnoyu
Kakaya-to svyaz’ rodilas’.
Ya dumal… ne pomyu, chto dumal…
Ya slushal tainstvennyi khor,
I zvyozdy tikhon’ko drozhali,
I zvyozdy lyublyu ya s tekh por !
For a long time I stood motionless
English translation ©
Philip Ross Bullock
Staring up at the distant stars –
Between those stars and myself
Some kind of bond was born.
I thought… I don’t recall what I thought…
I listened to the mysterious chorus,
And the stars quivered softly,
And since then I have loved the stars…!
The Stars
Russian source:
Afanasy Afanasyevich Fet
For a long time I stood motionless
English source:
Philip Ross Bullock
Ya dolgo stoyal nepodvizhno,
For a long time I stood motionless,
V dalyokie zvyozdy vglyadyas’,
Staring up at the distant stars –
Mezh temi zvezdami i mnoyu
Between those stars and myself
Kakaya-to svyaz’ rodilas’.
Some kind of bond was born.
Ya dumal… ne pomyu, chto dumal…
I thought… I don’t recall what I thought…
Ya slushal tainstvennyi khor,
I listened to the mysterious chorus,
I zvyozdy tikhon’ko drozhali,
And the stars quivered softly,
I zvyozdy lyublyu ya s tekh por !
And since then I have loved the stars…!
Composer
Pauline Viardot
Pauline Viardot, née Garcia (1821-1910) was one of the most remarkable, accomplished musical professionals of the 19th century. Born into a family of music professionals, she wanted to be a pianist, but following the early death of her sister…
