I. S. Turgenev

«Певцы» is a story from Turgenev’s cycle «Записки охотника». On a scorching July day the narrator comes to the village of Kolotovka and hears that peasants are gathering at the «Притынный кабачок» for a contest between two famous singers, Yashka-Turok and a contractor from Zhizdra. The contractor sings first: he is skilful and light, he trills in a falsetto, and the listeners approve. Yakov begins quietly with a trembling voice and gradually moves everyone, even the stern Dikiy-Barin, to tears. The climax comes when Yakov ends on a high note as if his voice had snapped: everybody falls silent, and the contractor says “You have won” and leaves the room. The story shows the talent and the beauty of soul of ordinary people.