Text & Translation
Adelaide
German source:
Matthison, Friedrich von
Mild vom lieblichen Zauberlicht umflossen,
Das durch wankende Blütenzweige zittert,
Adelaide!
In der spiegelnden Flut, im Schnee der Alpen,
In des sinkenden Tages Goldgewölke,
Im Gefilde der Sterne strahlt dein Bildnis,
Adelaide!
Abendlüftchen im zarten Laube flüstern,
Silberglöckchen des Mai’s im Grase säuseln,
Wellen rauschen und Nachtigallen flöten:
Adelaide!
Einst, o Wunder! entblüht auf meinem Grabe
Eine Blume der Asche meines Herzens;
Deutlich schimmert auf jedem Purpurblättchen:
Adelaide!
Adelaide
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
gently bathed in the lovely magic light that shimmers
through the swaying branches in blossom,
Adelaide!
In the mirroring waters, in the Alpine snows,
in the golden clouds of the dying day,
in the meadows of stars your image shines,
Adelaide!
Evening breezes whisper in the tender leaves,
silver bells of May rustle in the grass,
waves plash and nightingales sing:
Adelaide!
One day, miraculously, a flower from the ashes
of my heart shall bloom upon my grave;
on every tiny purple leaf shall glimmer clearly:
Adelaide!
Adelaide
German source:
Matthison, Friedrich von
Adelaide
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Einsam wandelt dein Freund im Frühlingsgarten,
In solitude your lover walks in the spring garden
Mild vom lieblichen Zauberlicht umflossen,
gently bathed in the lovely magic light that shimmers
Das durch wankende Blütenzweige zittert,
through the swaying branches in blossom,
Adelaide!
Adelaide!
In der spiegelnden Flut, im Schnee der Alpen,
In des sinkenden Tages Goldgewölke,
In the mirroring waters, in the Alpine snows,
Im Gefilde der Sterne strahlt dein Bildnis,
in the golden clouds of the dying day,
Adelaide!
in the meadows of stars your image shines,
Abendlüftchen im zarten Laube flüstern,
Evening breezes whisper in the tender leaves,
Silberglöckchen des Mai’s im Grase säuseln,
silver bells of May rustle in the grass,
Wellen rauschen und Nachtigallen flöten:
waves plash and nightingales sing:
Adelaide!
Adelaide!
Einst, o Wunder! entblüht auf meinem Grabe
One day, miraculously, a flower from the ashes
Eine Blume der Asche meines Herzens;
of my heart shall bloom upon my grave;
Deutlich schimmert auf jedem Purpurblättchen:
on every tiny purple leaf shall glimmer clearly:
Adelaide!
Adelaide!
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
Matthison, Friedrich von
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven. He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor,…