Live Performance, private event
Daniela Bisenius, violin
Don Stille, accordion
2020
For booking information contact:
Di Arte Entertainment
www.diarteentertainment.com

Dark Eyes (Italian: Oci ciornie; Russian: Очи чёрные óchi chjórnyje) is a 1987 Italian and Russian language film which tells the story of a 19thcentury married Italian who falls in love with a married Russian woman. It stars Marcello Mastroianni and Yelena Safonova.
One day, on board a steamer, Romano (Marcello Mastroianni), a middleaged Italian, tells to a Russian man the story of his life. He narrates his encounter with a young Russian lady with dark beautiful eyes, their brief romantic interlude and his sudden abandonment. Haunted by the memory of that lady, Romano travels to Russia to find her.
The film was adapted from (or rather inspired by) four Anton Chekhov's stories, notably The Lady with the Dog, by a SovietItalian team that included Alexander Adabashyan, Suso Cecchi d'Amico and Nikita Mikhalkov. The latter directed. The title refers to a famous Russian art song.
Oh, these gorgeous eyes, dark and glorious eyes,
Burnwithpassion eyes, how you hypnotise!
How I adore you so, how I fear you though,
Since I saw you glow! Now my spirit's low!

Darkness yours conceal mighty fires real;
They my fate will seal: burn my soul with zeal!
But my love for you, when the time is due,
Will refresh anew like the morning dew!

No, not sad am I, nor so mad am I;
All my comforts lie in my destiny.
Just to realise my life’s worthiest prize
Did I sacrifice for those ardent eyes!.

Translation by Peter Farnbank

Another rhythmical translation which is closer to the original

Oh you dark black eyes, fullofpassioneyes
Oh you burning eyes, how you hypnotise
Now I love you so, but I fear you though
Since you glanced at me not so long ago.

Oh I see you now, you are dark and deep
I see grief and feel that my soul will weep
I see now in you a winning burning glow
in my poor heart will a fire grow.

I’ m not sorrowful, I’m not repenting
I accept all that my fate's presenting
All the best in life, God has given us
this I sacrifice, to you dark black eyes.