This song was recorded on the album 'Schubert Year by Year' on Stone Records, in preparation for Oxford Lieder's 2014 The Schubert Project, the first ever complete performance of Schubert's songs in a single festival. It features one song from each year of Schubert's creative life.
Click here to listen to the song with Benjamin Hulett and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.
Abendstern
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
O schöner Stern? und bist so mild;
Warum entfernt das funkelnde Gewimmel
Der Brüder sich von deinem Bild?
„Ich bin der Liebe treuer Stern,
Sie halten sich von Liebe fern.“
So solltest du zu ihnen gehen,
Bist du der Liebe, zaud’re nicht!
Wer möchte denn dir widerstehen?
Du süsses eigensinnig Licht.
„Ich säe, schaue keinen Keim,
Und bleibe trauernd still daheim.“
The Evening Star
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
fair star? For you are so gentle;
why does the host of sparkling brothers
shun your sight?
‘I am the faithful star of love;
they keep far away from love.’
If you are love,
you should go to them without delay!
For who could resist you,
sweet, wayward light?
‘I sow no seed, I see no shoot,
and remain here, silent and mournful.’
Abendstern
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
The Evening Star
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Was weilst du einsam an dem Himmel,
Why do you linger all alone in the sky,
O schöner Stern? und bist so mild;
fair star? For you are so gentle;
Warum entfernt das funkelnde Gewimmel
why does the host of sparkling brothers
Der Brüder sich von deinem Bild?
shun your sight?
„Ich bin der Liebe treuer Stern,
‘I am the faithful star of love;
Sie halten sich von Liebe fern.“
they keep far away from love.’
So solltest du zu ihnen gehen,
If you are love,
Bist du der Liebe, zaud’re nicht!
you should go to them without delay!
Wer möchte denn dir widerstehen?
For who could resist you,
Du süsses eigensinnig Licht.
sweet, wayward light?
„Ich säe, schaue keinen Keim,
‘I sow no seed, I see no shoot,
Und bleibe trauernd still daheim.“
and remain here, silent and mournful.’
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Johann Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Eros & Psyche 21 Oct 2023
- To the Distant Beloved: Robin Tritschler & Graham Johnson 03 Apr 2020
- Benjamin Appl & Sholto Kynoch 04 Mar 2017
- Franz Schubert: Andrè Schuen & Daniel Heide 21 Oct 2016