Stravinsky - Chanson Russe. Russian Maiden's Song
Igor Stravinsky - Chanson Russe (Russian Maiden's Song) from the opera "Mavra". Arranged for cello and piano by Dimitry Markevitch.
Christophor Miroshnikov, cello
Popi Malapani, piano
Athens, Greece 3 Feb 2024
The arrangement, Chanson Russe (Russian Maiden's Song), is based on two arias from Stravinsky's opera Mavra: Parasha's Song and Hussar's Song.
Parasha, a maiden of marriageable age, aching for love to her beloved hussar Vasily, can't wait to see him and is ready for any “adventure”, not at all out of her depravity, but out of naivety and the need to obey the voice of nature. Her song is in the genre of sentimental romance of the 30s and 40s, but with a constant bias towards simple-minded songs.
At some point, a hussar appears and they sing a love duet, enjoying the opportunity to be alone, but all this continues until Parasha’s mother returns and the hussar is forced to leave his passionate maiden.