Moscow Nights
Encyclopedia
Choir and orchestra of the Red Army
"Moscow Nights" or "Midnight in Moscow" is a Russia
n song, and one of those best known outside its homeland.
The song was originally created as "Leningradskie Vechera" ("Leningrad Nights") by composer Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi
and poet Mikhail Matusovsky
in 1955 (when both had well-established careers), but at the request of the Soviet Ministry of Culture, the version "Подмосковные вечера" (transliterate
d as "Podmoskovnye Vechera"; more or less "Evenings in Moscow Oblast
") was prepared, with corresponding changes to the lyrics.
Podmoskovnye Vechera was recorded by Vladimir Troshin, a young actor of the Moscow Art Theatre
, for a documentary
about the athletic competition Spartakiad
of the Peoples of the RSFSR, for a scene where the participants rest in the Podmoskovye, or the Moscow suburbs. It found little notice in the context of the film, but gained a significant popularity thanks to radio broadcasts.
In 1957, the song won both the international song contest and the first prize at the World Festival of Youth and Students
held in Moscow
, quite to the surprise of its creators. The song spread around the world, achieving particular popularity in mainland China
; Van Cliburn
's 1958 piano performance of the tune contributed to this international spread.
In the Soviet Union
, the tune has been the time signal sounded every 30 minutes on the Mayak
music and news radio station since 1964. The shortwave radio station Radio Moscow
's English-language service has played an instrumental version of "Moscow Nights", between informing listeners of frequency changes and the hourly newscast since the start of the 24 hour English Service in 1978.
The British jazz group, Kenny Ball
and his Jazzmen, had a hit with the song in 1961 under the title "Midnight in Moscow", and film exists which shows them playing it at a concert in Moscow. This version peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart in early 1962
; in March of that year, it spent three weeks at number one on the American Easy Listening chart.
The Russian pop singer Vitas
recorded a version of the song with his countertenor voice. He performed it on several Chinese festivals before its release on Masterpieces of Three Centuries, released on November 25, 2010.
"Moscow Nights" or "Midnight in Moscow" is a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n song, and one of those best known outside its homeland.
The song was originally created as "Leningradskie Vechera" ("Leningrad Nights") by composer Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi
Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi
Vasily Pavlovich Solovyov-Sedoi was a Russian classical composer who was born and died in Saint Petersburg.Solovyov-Sedoi composed the music for the songs Solovi and Moscow Nights...
and poet Mikhail Matusovsky
Mikhail Matusovsky
Mikhail Lvovich Matusovsky - Soviet poet, a winner of the USSR State Prize .-Biography:...
in 1955 (when both had well-established careers), but at the request of the Soviet Ministry of Culture, the version "Подмосковные вечера" (transliterate
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
d as "Podmoskovnye Vechera"; more or less "Evenings in Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast
Moscow Oblast , or Podmoskovye , is a federal subject of Russia . Its area, at , is relatively small compared to other federal subjects, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the country and, with the 2010 population of 7,092,941, is the second most populous federal subject...
") was prepared, with corresponding changes to the lyrics.
Podmoskovnye Vechera was recorded by Vladimir Troshin, a young actor of the Moscow Art Theatre
Moscow Art Theatre
The Moscow Art Theatre is a theatre company in Moscow that the seminal Russian theatre practitioner Constantin Stanislavski, together with the playwright and director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, founded in 1898. It was conceived as a venue for naturalistic theatre, in contrast to the melodramas...
, for a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about the athletic competition Spartakiad
Spartakiad
Spartakiad initially was the name of an international sports event that the Soviet Union attempted to use to both oppose and supplement the Olympics...
of the Peoples of the RSFSR, for a scene where the participants rest in the Podmoskovye, or the Moscow suburbs. It found little notice in the context of the film, but gained a significant popularity thanks to radio broadcasts.
In 1957, the song won both the international song contest and the first prize at the World Festival of Youth and Students
World Festival of Youth and Students
The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event, organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth , a left-wing youth organization, jointly with the International Union of Students since 1947....
held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, quite to the surprise of its creators. The song spread around the world, achieving particular popularity in mainland China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
; Van Cliburn
Van Cliburn
Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn Jr. is an American pianist who achieved worldwide recognition in 1958 at age 23, when he won the first quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War....
's 1958 piano performance of the tune contributed to this international spread.
In the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, the tune has been the time signal sounded every 30 minutes on the Mayak
Radio Mayak
Radio Mayak is a radio broadcasting company in Russia, owned by VGTRK. Mayak is the Russian word for "lighthouse" or "beacon". As well as Radio Mayak proper , the company is also responsible for the youth music channel Radio Yunost.Radio Mayak was established in August 1964 as a major All-Union...
music and news radio station since 1964. The shortwave radio station Radio Moscow
Voice of Russia
Voice of Russia is the Russian government's international radio broadcasting service owned by the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company. Its predecessor Radio Moscow was the official international broadcasting station of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.-Early years:Radio Moscow...
's English-language service has played an instrumental version of "Moscow Nights", between informing listeners of frequency changes and the hourly newscast since the start of the 24 hour English Service in 1978.
The British jazz group, Kenny Ball
Kenny Ball
Kenny Ball is an English jazz musician, best known as the lead trumpet player in Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.-Career:...
and his Jazzmen, had a hit with the song in 1961 under the title "Midnight in Moscow", and film exists which shows them playing it at a concert in Moscow. This version peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in early 1962
1962 in music
-Events:*January 1 – The Beatles and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes both audition at Decca Records, a company which has the option of signing one group only...
; in March of that year, it spent three weeks at number one on the American Easy Listening chart.
The Russian pop singer Vitas
Vitas
Vitaliy "Vitalik" Vladasovich Grachyov , better known by his stage name Vitas , is a Russian singer-songwriter.Known for his high falsetto voice, he has been given the nickname "Prince of the Dolphin Voice" in China...
recorded a version of the song with his countertenor voice. He performed it on several Chinese festivals before its release on Masterpieces of Three Centuries, released on November 25, 2010.
Text
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
Не слышны в саду даже шорохи, Всё здесь замерло до утра. Eсли б знали вы, как мне дороги Подмосковные вечера. Речка движется и не движется, Вся из лунного серебра. Песня слышится и не слышится В эти тихие вечера. Что ж ты, милая, смотришь искоса, Низко голову наклоня? Трудно высказать и не высказать Всё, что на сердце у меня. А рассвет уже всё заметнее. Так, пожалуйста, будь добра. Не забудь и ты эти летние Подмосковные вечера. |
Whispers are not heard in the flowerbed, Everything has died down till dawn. If you only knew, how dear to me Are these tranquil Moscow nights. As the river moves, and yet unmoving, All in silver moonlight so bright. 'Tis where a song is heard, and yet unheard, In these silent tranquil nights. Why do you, dear, look askance, with your head lowered so? Why do you not speak so, my sweetheart? It is hard to express, and hard to hold back, Everything that my heart holds. But dawn's becoming ever brighter. So please, just be good dear sweetheart. Don't you, too, forget, these Moscow nights These summer, Moscow nights. |