The song was written in the early 1930’s by the composer Konstantin Listov based on the poem by Paul Arsky. It became one of the most popular dancing songs/tunes in the Soviet Union.

In Chaire’s Park the roses are starting to bloom,
In Chaire’s Park almond-trees are starting to bloom.
I am seeing in my dreams your golden braids,
I am seeing in my dreams the joy far away…
My dear, we will see each other again soon -
You are daydreaming about the love letter.
The storms are dancing in the North Pole,
And northern wind is singing outside the window…
In Chaire’s Park the violets are getting bluer,
There are hundreds of different varieties of bushes.
I am seeing in my dreams your passion that is tender and hot
I am seeing in my dreams your light, the spring and the love.

A story behind the song…

As early as I can remember, I sang this song with my father Nikolaj. My first memory of that is when he would pick me up and dance with me, while singing this song. I looked at him with such adoration. The song sounded so cool and he looked so happy and handsome at the moment. Later, when I learned to play piano, we would enjoy singing this song together in a more sophisticated version. Those were my bonding moments with my father…

The poem was written in late 1920’s by Paul Arsky while he vacationed at a resort on the grounds of Park Chaire on the South of Crimea. The most detailed and fascinating detailed story about Park Chaire and the song can be found on www.peshkom.info . The site is in Russian.

In short, the history of the Chaire’s Park has begun in 1902, when the land was purchased by Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolaevich Romanov of Russia (the younger) for his wife Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna. The mansion, the park and the gardens that were created by the architect N. Krasnov were given name Chaire. The translation of Chaire from crimea-tatar language is “mountain garden”. The park became especially known for its exceptionally beautiful rose garden. In 1920, after the architectural complex was confiscated by Soviet Government, it became “yuzhsovkhoz”, a collective farm that continued to grow and sell roses and other variety of flowers. In the mansion a school-colony for children was established, who also took care of grounds and flowers. The original building does not exist today. But the two villas on the grounds around of Chaire’s Park are survived, and now are resort/hotels.

This song was recorded in March, 2010, at the Sean Sweeney Recording Studio with pianist Arkady Figlin.

Poem by A. Fet (1820-1892)

Do Not Wake Her Up at Dawn

Do not wake her up at dawn-
She sleeps so peacefully.
Long into the night
She sat at her window,
Watching closely the play of moon and clouds in the sky.
While the moon shone brighter and brighter,
And nightingale sang more passionately,
Her face became paler and her heart raced faster.
So do not wake her up too early-
She sleeps so sweetly.

Original piano accompaniment is by Arkady Figlin.

The Romance was recorded at Sean Sweeney Recording Studio in March, 2010.

I want to make myself a house in the middle of the sea,
Made of peacock feathers.
Trallal la le la tralla la la
Gold and silver stairs and the balconies of precious stones.

Trala la le la tralla la la
When my Nennella shows up there,
Everybody will say there’s the sun rising.
Tralla la le la tralla la la

Amor marinaro – Me voglio fa ‘na casa – Sailor’s love was written by Gaetano Donizetti (1797 – 1848) on the text by an Anonymous/Unidentified Artist in the Neapolitan dialect.

This song was recorded in July of 2010 at McPhine Studios in Salt Lake City, Utah.

October 17, 2010, 2PM

Synod Hall

75 East 93rd Street NYC

(corner of Park Ave and 93rd Street)

Tickets $20

All proceeds will aid Restoration of the Synod Building, formerly known as Baker’s Mansion. This Historic Building is one of the New York’s finest examples of urban residential architecture from the early 20th Century, and today it is in need of support to restore and preserve.

This concert marks Ninetieth concert produced by Elena Wolkonsky for the Synod Memorial Fund.

Program:

• Au Couvant by A. Borodin
• Prelude (for left hand) by A. Scriabin
• Prelude C#min. by S. Rachmaninoff
• Toccata by A. Khachaturian

Performed by pianist Elena Volkonsky

- Gremin’s Aria from opera Eugene Onegin by P. Tchaikovsky

- Three Romances by P. Tchaikovsky

Performed by bass Eric Keller and pianist Shane Schag

- Four Songs from cycle “The Nursery” by M.Mussorgsky

- Four Romances by S. Rachmaninoff

Performed by soprano Irina Mozyleva and pianist Shane Schag