Lina Mkrtchyan sings ’Songs and Dances of Death“ : 2. Serenade (Mussorgsky)

Lina Mkrtchyan sings ’Songs and Dances of Death“ Mussorgsky ------------------------- Nega volshebnaja, noch’ golubaja, Trepetnyj sumrak vesny. Vnemlet, poniknuv golovkoj, bol’naja Shopot nochnoj tishiny. Son ne smykajet blestjashchije ochi, Zhizn’ k naslazhden’ju zovjot, A pod okoshkom v molchan’ji polnochi Smert’ serenadu pojot: ,,V mrake nevoli surovoj i tesnoj Molodost’ vjanet tvoja; Rycar’ nevedomyj, siloj chudesnoj Osvobozhu ja tebja. Vstan’, posmotri na sebja: krasotoju Lik tvoj prozrachnyj blestit, Shchjoki rumjany, volnistoj kosoju Stan tvoj, kak tuchej obvit. Pristal’nykh glaz goluboje sijan’je, Jarche nebes i ognja; Znojem poludennym vejet dykhan’je... Ty obol’stila menja. Slukh tvoj plenilsja mojej serenadoj, Rycarja shopot tvoj zval, Rycar’ prishjol za poslednej nagradoj: Chas upojen’ja nastal. Nezhen tvoj stan, upojitelen trepet... O, zadushu ja tebja V krepkikh ob“jat’jakh: ljubovnyj moj lepet Slushaj!... molchi!... Ty moja!`` ------------------------------------------------------------------ Languorous, magical dark blue night. Trembling spring twilight. With bowed head, a sickly young woman listens to the still murmurs of the night. Sleep has not closed her eyes. Life pleads with joy not to fade, But in the silence of midnight, Death sings a serenade: “In the darkness of cruel captivity, your youth fades. I, an errant knight, unknown to you, will free you by my magic power. Stand up, look at yourself. You are beautiful. Your face shines, your cheeks rosy. Dark tresses like clouds envelope your body. Your light blue eyes brighter than the moon, Shine like the skies, Your breath hot as a midday fire. You charm me... Over you I have cast a spell with my serenade. Your whisper was calling me. Your knight is here to claim his supreme reward. Your hour of bliss has come. Your body so soft, and your enchanting charm, Oh, I will strangle you in my strong embrace. Lover, hear my whisper... Be silent... You are mine!“