Accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the famous Spanish tenor José Carreras sings “Midnight in Moscow” in Spanish (A la luz de luna azul). Conductor: Christian Kolonovits. Recorded at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Carreras and Vienna Symphony’s “Around the World” concert.

Accompanied by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the famous Spanish tenor José Carreras sings “Midnight in Moscow” (A la luz de luna azul). Conductor: Christian Kolonovits.

Midnight in Moscow

The melody is widely known as “Moscow Nights”, a Russian song, one of those best known outside its homeland. The song was originally created as “Leningradskie Vechera” (“Leningrad Nights”) by composer Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi and poet Mikhail Matusovsky in 1955.

Vladimir Troshin was the singer/actor who first recorded “Moscow Nights,” giving the song its initial burst of fame. The tune won first prize in an international song competition held in Moscow in 1957. It became a hit in China. Since 1964 in the old Soviet Union, the tune has been played on the radio every 30 minutes as part of the time signal.

In 1961 the British jazz group, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, recorded an instrumental version called “Midnight in Moscow.” They even played it when on tour in Moscow. It did extremely well on the charts of the Western world. As recently as 2008, the Russian singer Vitas recorded a second version of the song. It again enjoyed great success and again in China; proof positive that songs can cross borders and cultures in both the East and the West.

In the 2008 Olympics, the winning rhythmic gymnast used “Midnight in Moscow” as the music for her gold medal performance.

Here “Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen” version below:

Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen – “Midnight in Moscow” (original). Johnny Bennet, trombone, Dave Jones, clarinet, Ron Weatherburn, piano, Vic Pitts, bass, Ron Bowden, drums, and Paddy Lightfoot, banjo.

Lyrics

Spanish

1. Verse:
Cuando el sol se esconde al anochecer
Nace un poema en Moscu
Es que la ciudad
Despertando va
A la luz de una luna azul.

2. Verse:
En Moscú la dicha y el sinsabor
Juntos cantan una canción
Que te hara vibrar
Que te hara sonar

Enredandote el corazón
Que te hara vibrar
Que te hara sonar
Enredandote el corazón

3. Verse:
Una balalaika y un gran amor
Dejé yo guardado en Moscú
El recuerdo fiel
Escribo en un papel
De esas noches de sombra y luz.

El recuerdo fiel
Escribo en un papel
De esas noches de sombra y luz.

4. Verse :
Cuando ya la luna se va a dormir
Y Moscú se viste de sol
Llevo aun en mi
Los versos que escribi
A la luz de una luna azul

Llevo aun en mi
Los versos que escribi
A la luz de una luna azul

Lleno de emoción
Canto esta canción
A la luz de una luna azul

English (Automated translation)

1 verse:
When the sun goes down in the evening
A poem is born in Moscow
Is that the city
Awakening will
In the light of a blue moon.

2 verse:
In Moscow the joy and the sinsabor
Together sing a song
That you will vibrate
That you will sound

Enredandote heart
That you will vibrate
That you will sound
Enredandote heart

3 verse:
A balalaika and a great love
I left I stayed in Moscow
True remembrance
I write in a paper
Of those nights of shadow and light.

True remembrance
I write in a paper
Of those nights of shadow and light.

4 verse:
When the Moon already goes to sleep
And Moscow Sun dresses
I’ve even been in my
The verses I wrote
In the light of a blue moon

I’ve even been in my
The verses I wrote
In the light of a blue moon

Full of emotion
Singing this song
In the light of a blue moon

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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