Song To The Moon from Rusalka

Rusalka is an opera that follows a lyric fairytale. It premiered in Prague in 1901. Antonín Dvořák composed the opera from a libretto by the poet Jaroslav Kvapil. A rusalka is a water sprite from Slavic mythology, much like a mermaid. Rusalka, the Water-Nymph, tells her father she has fallen in love with a human Prince who comes to hunt around the lake, and she wants to become human to embrace him. He tells her it is a bad idea, but nonetheless steers her to a witch, Ježibaba, for assistance. Rusalka sings her "Song to the Moon," in which she asks the moon to tell the Prince of her love. The story ends tragically. Having experienced human love, Rusalka is doomed to the depths of the lake as a demon of death.

This rendition of 'Song to the Moon' was performed for Sony Masterworks in 2014 by then nine-year-old Dutch operatic soprano Amira Willighagen. Many have said that the quality of voice in this recording is simply unrepeatable. The English language lyrics below are taken straight from the album's sound track. It is helpful to follow them as you hear the song. Amazingly, Amira did not know English at the time of this recording, and only imitated the sounds of the words.

Lyrics

Silvery moon in the velvet sky
Your light shines high in the heavens
Over the world, wandering
Gazing in human dwellings
Over the world, wandering
Gazing in human dwellings
Oh moon, stay a while, stay with me
Tell me, oh, where is my lover?
Oh, won't you stay awhile, stay with me
Tell me, oh, where is my love... where?
Tell him, oh, tell him, oh silver moon
That in my arms, I enfold him
Tell him in dreams to think of me
Even if only for a moment
Tell him in dreams to think of me
Even if just for a moment
Shine on in reverie
Shine on him
Tell him, oh, tell him I am here, waiting
Shine on in reverie
Shine on him
Tell him, oh, tell him I am here, waiting
If his human soul should dream of me
May he still remember me on waking
Moon, moon, oh, shine for him
Shine for him
Shine, shine, oh, shine for him

Amira receiving the release of her first album, containing her rendition of 'Song to the Moon,' at her 10th birthday celebration. The man presenting it to her is Gordon Heuckeroth, who discovered her talent.

Another heart-wrenching and somewhat more clear translation of the lyrics, by Jules Brunelleare, is given here:
O moon high up in the deep, deep sky,
Your light sees far away regions,
You travel round the wide,
Wide world peering into human dwellings
O, moon, stand still for a moment,
Tell me, ah, tell me where is my lover!
Tell him. please, silvery moon in the sky,
That I am hugging him firmly,
That he should for at least a while
Remember his dreams!
Light up his far away place,
Tell him, ah, tell him who is here waiting!
If he is dreaming about me,
May this remembrance waken him!
O, moon, don't disappear, disappear!

Here Amira sings the song live at the Cardo Theater in Groesbeek, Netherlands on May 12, 2015.