DESCRIPTION:
Aleksander Wertyński with piano acc. by A. Bloch -- Madame Irene (Pani Irena) Chanson, Parlophon c. 1929 (UK)

NOTE: Aleksander Wertyński (Alexandre Vertinsky) was the legendary Russian romance interpreter and poet, who gained international recognition after 1919, when he left Soviet Russia after the Bolshevic revolution of October 1917 and settled first in Poland, then in Paris. That handsome, elegant, cold and refined morphinist with dreamy, affectionate tenor (who, moreover, proved later to be a Soviet agent) shortly became the most adored bard of "white" Russian emigree circles in Western Europe and in America. His nostalgic, sophisticated poetical chant reminded them of the lost Atlantis of their pre-revolutionary life in the Tzarist Empire. In 1920s, Wertyński gave a lot of performances in Poland, and recorded for Syrena-Electro most of his best-known songs. For the Wertyński-series, the company reserved the burgundy color of their otherwise black & gold labels, and maestro Jerzy Petersburski in person accompanied the Russian mega-star on the piano.
One of fruits of Wertyński's stay in Poland has become one of his most beautiful songs "Madame Irene" (Pani Irena). It was adressed to a mysterious Polish beauty, whose ID remains to this day controversial for Wertyński's biographers. Wertyński recorded it in c. 1929 for the Odeon/Parlophone company in London, with piano-accompaniment by A. Bloch. Some time later, he made its another rendition for Syrena-Electro in Warsaw with Jerzy Petersburski's accompaniment (Here, presented in the first version).
I dared to present in the info my own and very imperefect English translation of Wertynski's lovely Russian lyrics -- only to let you feel the artistic class of the text , which creates - together with the restless, curving line of the melody - a true gem of Russian chanson of the 1920s. I also made a small investigation, on who in fact Mrs. Irene was? The answer is left with you -- after you'll get acquainted with my selection of the photos of several most beautiful Polish women of the 1920s. Each of them is the possible participant in that love affair, immortalised in Wertyński's beautifl song.

Madame Irene (Pani Irena)
Words & music by Aleksander Wertyński

I'm extremely afraid of this golden captivity
Of Your copper snake hair
I'm in love with Your subtle name " Irene "
And in traces of your tears .

I'm in love with your proud Polish hands ,
In your blue blood of kings,
In this pale face -- until my extasy, until my pain
Burns this song to the ash.

Who can forget those childish shoulders
This bitter, tearful mouth
And accent of your exquisite Polish speech
And your weary eyelashes ?

A winged eyebrows ? A forehead of Beatrice ?
And the spring freshness when you turn your face? ..
Oh, how hard it is to love in this world of decency ,
Oh, how it hurts to love without end!

And to faint, ant to suffer, and not dare to get involved ,
And to squeeze the heart in your grasp ,
Then carefully withdraw , and abandon forever
And smile in anguish again.

First I can't, I don't want to, and finally - I don' wish it!
Yety, welcoming that captivity with joy
And my hart to you, from the scene , like a ball I'm tossing .
Well , catch it, Princess Irene !