Gremin's aria, Sava Vemic: 2017 Belvedere International Competition Finals, Moscow

P. I. Tchaikovsky: Prince Gremin's aria (from opera Eugenie Onegin) - Sava Vemic

2017 Belvedere International Singing Competition Finals
in Helikon Opera, Moscow; July 6th 2017

Opera Eugenie Onegin
Role: Prince Gremin, a retired general
Setting: a fancy ballroom in a house in St. Petersburg, Russia, late 1700s
Synopsis: Gremin explains to Onegin how Tatiana came into his life two years prior, became his wife and filled his life with love and happiness.

Aria text in translation:

"All ages surrender to love.
Its impulses are beneficial
to both a youth in his prime
having hardly seen the world,
and the grey-headed warrior,
hardened by experience!
Onegin, I will not disguise
That I madly love Titiana
My life was dreary,
She appeared and brightened
Like sunlight in a stormy sky,
Bringing me life and youth,
Yes, youth and happiness!
Among these sly, cowardly,
Foolish, spoiled children;
scoundrels, the absurd, and dull;
the dumb, the judgemental
among devout coquettes,
among voluntary slaves,
among daily scenes of fashion,
courteous, tender infidelities
Among cold verdicts
Of cruel-hearted vanity,
Among annoying emptiness of
Thought and conversation
She shines, like a star
In dark of night, in the clear sky
And to me always appears
A radiant angel,
A radiant angel, full of shine!
All ages surrender to love…"

Russian text of aria:
"Любви все возрасты покорны,
её порывы благотворны
и юноше в расцвете лет,
едва увидевшему свет,
и закалённому судьбой
бойцу с седою головой!
Онегин, я скрывать не стану,
безумно я люблю Татьяну!
Тоскливо жизнь моя текла;
она явилась и зажгла,
как солнца луч среди ненастья,
мне жизнь, и молодость,
да, молодость и счастье!
Среди лукавых, малодушных,
шальных, балованных детей,
злодеев и смешных, и скучных,
тупых, привязчивых судей,
среди кокеток богомольных,
среди холопьев добровольных,
среди вседневных модных сцен,
учтивых, ласковых измен,
среди холодных приговоров,
жестокосердой суеты,
среди досадной пустоты
расчётов, дум и разговоров
она блистает, как звезда
во мраке ночи в небе чистом,
и мне является всегда
в сияньи ангела,
в сияньи ангела лучистом.
Любви все возрасты покорны...."