Ewa Podleś: Mussorgsky - Songs and Dances of Death, 'Lullaby'
Ewa Podleś (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɛva ˈpɔdlɛɕ]; born on April 26, 1952 in Warsaw) is an internationally celebrated Polish coloratura contralto with a very wide vocal range (from a low A2 up to soprano high D) and great vocal agility. Though known mainly for her Baroque works, Podleś's repertoire ranges from Handel's Giulio Cesare (Cesare) to songs by Shostakovich. Right at the center of her abilities, however, are the contralto roles (some of them "trouser" roles) of Rossini. She is also a specialist in Russian works. She has frequently been labeled a "force of nature." Ewa Podleś and her husband, the accomplished pianist Jerzy Marchwiński, live in Warsaw, Poland... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewa_Podleś
Lyrics & English Translation
Stonet rebjonok... Svecha, nagoraja,
(Faint sounds of moaning!)
Tusklo mercajet krugom
(The lamp now expiring casts but a dim flickering light.)
Celuju noch' kolybel'ku kachaja,
(Rocking the cradle, the mother untiring ;)
Mat' ne zabylasja snom.
(Waiting, watching, all through the night.)
Ranym-ranjokhon'ko v dver' ostorozhno
(Long before dawn someone comes knocking,)
Smert' serdobol'naja stuk!
(Death the deliverer is here!)
Vzdrognula mat', ogljanulas' trevozhno...
(Listen! Trembling, the mother desists from her rocking...)
Polno pugat'sja, moj drug!
("Friend, calm your fear and despair!)
Blednoje utro uzh smotrit v okoshko...
(See! Through the window peeps the pale morrow,)
Placha, toskuja, ljublja,
(Weeping and watching forlorn,)
Ty utomilas', vzdremni-ka nemnozhko,
(Rest, poor woman, rest from your sorrow,)
Ja posizhu za tebja.
(Sleep, I will watch till the morn.)
Ugomonit' ty ditja ne sumela.
(Could you not hush your poor infant to slumber?)
Slashche tebja ja spoju.
("My song is sweeter than yours.")
Tishe! rebjonok moj mechetsja, b'jotsja,
(Grief! Render this my heart!)
Dushu terzaja moju!
("Silence! My baby is suffering, crying,")
Nu, da so mnoju on skoro ujmjotsja.
("Soon he will sleep in my arms softly lying ;)
Bajushki, baju, baju.
(Hush baby, hush my baby!")
Shchjochki blednejut, slabejet dykhan'je...
("Pale grow his cheeks, the fever increases,)
Da zamolchi-zhe, molju!
(Oh sing no more, I entreat!")
Dobroje znamen'je, stikhnet stradan'je,
("These are good signs, see his agony ceases,)
Bajushki, baju, baju.
(Hush-a-bye, hush-a-by, sweet child.")
Proch' ty, prokljataja!
("Arrive! Accursed Death!")
Laskoj svojeju sgubish' ty radost' moju!
(Look how your singing does blight my baby, my joy!")
Net, mirnyj son ja mladencu naveju.
("Nay, peaceful dreams to your son I am bringing.)
Bajushki, baju, baju.
("My boy... hush now... hush now!")
Szhal'sja, pozhdi dopevat' khot' mgnoven'je,
("Mercy, one instant, kind Death,)
Strashnuju pesnju tvoju!
(Cease your strain!)
Vidish', usnul on pod tikhoje pen'je.
("See, there he slumbers, my song stilled his pain)
Bajushki, baju, baju.
(My child... hush-a-by, hush-a-by!)
A link to this wonderful artists personal Website: http://www.podles.pl/
Please Enjoy!
I send my kind and warm regards,