Difference between revisions of "Lebedinaia pesnia"

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''[[Lebedinaia pesnia]]'' ([[лебединая песня]] in Cyrillic script, or "[[Swan Song]]" in English) is a one-act Russian play by Anton Chekhov  
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''[[Lebedinaia pesnia]]'' ([[лебединая песня]] in Cyrillic script, meaning "swan song") is a one-act Russian play by [[Anton Chekhov]] (1860–1904)[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Chekhov].
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Known as '''''[[Swan Song]]''''' in English and '''''[[Swanesang]]''''' in [[Afrikaans]]
  
Written in 1887 about an old actor who spends the night reminiscing about his life and career in an empty theatre.
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== The original text ==
  
Originally translated into English by Marian Fell and published in 1912 by Charles Scribner's Sons.
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Written in 1887, the play was adapted from one of Chekhov's own short stories,and is described in English as as a [[vaudeville]] about an old actor and his prompter in a theatre after the lights go out.
  
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==Translations and adaptations==
  
'''See'' [[Swansong]]'''''
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===English===
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Originally translated into English as ''[[Swan Song]]''  by Marian Fell and published, with an introduction by Fell, in 1912 by Charles Scribner's Sons. A sound recording of the English play by  was made by Alan Davis Drake and published as an audiobook in [https://archive.org/details/AntonChekhov-SwanSong-AOneActPlay-AlanDavisDrake]
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Since then translated and adapted into English a number of times, including a celebrated adaptation for radion by by Michael Frayn performed by Paul Scofield and Alec McGowan, on BBC Radio 3 on 12 March, 2006 at 18:30, directed by Martin Jenkins. This has since been performed on stage a number of times by various actors.
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Also found as '''''[[Swansong]]''''' in English.
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===Afrikaans===
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There are three [[Afrikaans]] plays called '''''[[Swanesang]]''''' (= ''[[Swan Song]]''), all three translations of [[Anton Chekhov]]'s one-act play: 
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''[[Swanesang]]'' by [[Pietro Nolte]] (Unpublished, performed 1972/3)
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''[[Swanesang]]'' by [[Salomi Louw]], published as an acting text by [[DALRO]].
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''[[Swanesang]]'' by [[Nico Luwes]], published on the [[LitNet|Litnet-spens]][http://www.litnet.co.za/Article/litnet-spens-swanesang]
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1972 or 1973: ''[[Swanesang]]'' (the [[Pietro Nolte|Nolte]] translation) presented by the [[Kaapse Teatergroep]]. [[Mavis Lilenstein]] was the stage manager.
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== Sources ==
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''World Drama'' by Allardyce Nicoll, 1947. 683.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Chekhov
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http://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/av37077
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The Audiobook by Alan Davis Drake, the ''Internet Archive''[https://archive.org/details/AntonChekhov-SwanSong-AOneActPlay-AlanDavisDrake].
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Text of ''Swanesang'' by [[Nico Luwes]] in the [[LitNet|LitNet-spens]][http://www.litnet.co.za/Article/litnet-spens-swanesang]
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Scrapbook donated by [[Mavis Lilenstein]], held by [[NELM]] (re Kaapse Teatergroep production): [Collection: LILENSTEIN, Mavis]: 2007. 9. 25. 5.
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 12:32, 18 January 2019

Lebedinaia pesnia (лебединая песня in Cyrillic script, meaning "swan song") is a one-act Russian play by Anton Chekhov (1860–1904)[1].

Known as Swan Song in English and Swanesang in Afrikaans

The original text

Written in 1887, the play was adapted from one of Chekhov's own short stories,and is described in English as as a vaudeville about an old actor and his prompter in a theatre after the lights go out.

Translations and adaptations

English

Originally translated into English as Swan Song by Marian Fell and published, with an introduction by Fell, in 1912 by Charles Scribner's Sons. A sound recording of the English play by was made by Alan Davis Drake and published as an audiobook in [2]

Since then translated and adapted into English a number of times, including a celebrated adaptation for radion by by Michael Frayn performed by Paul Scofield and Alec McGowan, on BBC Radio 3 on 12 March, 2006 at 18:30, directed by Martin Jenkins. This has since been performed on stage a number of times by various actors.

Also found as Swansong in English.

Afrikaans

There are three Afrikaans plays called Swanesang (= Swan Song), all three translations of Anton Chekhov's one-act play:

Swanesang by Pietro Nolte (Unpublished, performed 1972/3)

Swanesang by Salomi Louw, published as an acting text by DALRO.

Swanesang by Nico Luwes, published on the Litnet-spens[3]

Performance history in South Africa

1972 or 1973: Swanesang (the Nolte translation) presented by the Kaapse Teatergroep. Mavis Lilenstein was the stage manager.

Sources

World Drama by Allardyce Nicoll, 1947. 683.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Chekhov

http://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/av37077

The Audiobook by Alan Davis Drake, the Internet Archive[4].

Text of Swanesang by Nico Luwes in the LitNet-spens[5]

Scrapbook donated by Mavis Lilenstein, held by NELM (re Kaapse Teatergroep production): [Collection: LILENSTEIN, Mavis]: 2007. 9. 25. 5.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

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