They insulted me and Wagner,
at Mariinsky yesterday,
there was no sound
of Wagner's fire there.
Where are his fogs
where his stone wall?
only four ugly idols
lie on the stage's floor.
Where is his greatness?
scale of forces and wonders?
wave of the exhortation
from heaven angel's trumpets?
where is his seething abyss?
where his lion's roar,
mingling of the singing
with tenderness that oveflows?
Where is his light bird,
alluring to soul, inside,
even the violon solo
is earthly, you cannot fly.
All the notes sound even.
Just a musical fabric.
why was he called 'primitive' -
I understand now.
But he will sound primitive
only if you play him like this.
tone without asperity -
How 'Onegin', your mother.
and I see Russian field
rather than soul's sky.
Such amount of pain,
that I went home at nine!
intonations were spoiled,
orchestra sounded dull.
Singers sang with Russian softness,
No claim to how they sang.
Claims are to you, Gergiev!
Did you understand Wagner?
and why, instead of good staging
instead of fine - you show ugly?
What do you bring to people?
It's disgusting to look at this show.
I'll say 'Thank you' only to Internet:
And will listen to him at home.
For money - I have no pity:
As charity - let it be so.
But you are playing for children,
and Wagner is not an idiot.
He might be offended from heaven,
In yesterday play - it was NOT him!
I always merge with him easily,
yesterday - there was no contact!
Wagner is my happiness,
symbol of heavenly love.
I want you to play him right, cause
'Excuse me' - is not enough.
***
Oскорбили меня и Вагнера,
в Мариинке вчера,
не было там звучания
Вагнеровского огня.
Где же его туманы,
каменная стена? -
уродливые истуканы
страшно на сцене лежат.
Где же его величие?
масштабы сил и чудес?
волны его призывные,
как ангел трубит с небес?
где его бездн бурление?
где его львиный рёв,
перемежённый с пением
с нежностью до краёв?
где его светлая птичка,
манящая внутрь души?
даже соло на скрипке -
земное, не улетишь.
Ровно звучат ноты,
просто нотная ткань.
почему 'примитивен' Вагнер -
я начала понимать.
примитивен он только если
примитивно его сыграть.
без резкости интонаций -
Как 'Онегина', твою мать.
и я вижу русское поле,
а не бездны небес и души.
Такое количество боли,
что в девять мы просто ушли!
интонации были смазаны,
тускло звучал оркестр.
Певцы пели с русской мягкостью,
но к певцам претензии нет.
Претензии к Вам, Гергиев!
а поняли ль Вы его?
и зачем вместо постановки
красивой - уродство одно?
и что Вы несёте людям?
на сцену - уродство одно.
Спасибо скажу интернету:
Дома буду слушать его.
мне не жаль потраченных денег:
как милостыня - сойдет.
Но вы так играете детям,
а Вагнер - не идиот.
Он может с небес обидеться,
вчера ведь звучал - не он!
Мне всегда легко было слиться с ним,
а вчера с нотой - ни с одной!
Вагнер - мое счастье,
Символ небесной любви.
Я хочу, чтобы Вы исправились,
ибо мало сказать: прости.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
I knew it was Siegfried because you mentioned the Forest Bird! But I shared every moment of your disappointment as I read your poem. Too many stage directors of opera ignore the composer's goals and stage their own issues. It's very frustrating. I have a dvd of Dvorak's Wagner-influenced opera RUSALKA which sounds great (!) but the staging is disgusting - I can't watch, only listen. But couldn't just listen. Gergiev failed you too. I also shared your expectations that this Wagner performance would be a delight in your memory. Alas....