Listen below to renowned British-Spanish mezzo-soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons perform Fauré's setting of 'Après un rêve' with pianist Sholto Kynoch. This recording is taken from the 2021 Oxford Lieder Festival, captured live at St John the Evangelist Church by TallWall Media.
Après un rêve
French source:
Romain Bussine
Je rêvais le bonheur, ardent mirage,
Tes yeux étaient plus doux, ta voix pure et sonore,
Tu rayonnais comme un ciel éclairé par l’aurore;
Tu m’appelais et je quittais la terre
Pour m’enfuir avec toi vers la lumière,
Les cieux pour nous entr’ouvraient leurs nues,
Splendeurs inconnues, lueurs divines entrevues.
Hélas! hélas, triste réveil des songes,
Je t’appelle, ô nuit, rends-moi tes mensonges;
Reviens, reviens, radieuse,
Reviens, ô nuit mystérieuse!
After a dream
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I dreamed of happiness, fervent illusion,
Your eyes were softer, your voice pure and ringing,
You shone like a sky that was lit by the dawn;
You called me and I departed the earth
To flee with you toward the light,
The heavens parted their clouds for us,
We glimpsed unknown splendours, celestial fires.
Alas, alas, sad awakening from dreams!
I summon you, O night, give me back your delusions;
Return, return in radiance,
Return, O mysterious night!
Translations by Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
Après un rêve
French source:
Romain Bussine
After a dream
English source:
Richard Stokes
Dans un sommeil que charmait ton image
In sleep made sweet by a vision of you
Je rêvais le bonheur, ardent mirage,
I dreamed of happiness, fervent illusion,
Tes yeux étaient plus doux, ta voix pure et sonore,
Your eyes were softer, your voice pure and ringing,
Tu rayonnais comme un ciel éclairé par l’aurore;
You shone like a sky that was lit by the dawn;
Tu m’appelais et je quittais la terre
You called me and I departed the earth
Pour m’enfuir avec toi vers la lumière,
To flee with you toward the light,
Les cieux pour nous entr’ouvraient leurs nues,
The heavens parted their clouds for us,
Splendeurs inconnues, lueurs divines entrevues.
We glimpsed unknown splendours, celestial fires.
Hélas! hélas, triste réveil des songes,
Alas, alas, sad awakening from dreams!
Je t’appelle, ô nuit, rends-moi tes mensonges;
I summon you, O night, give me back your delusions;
Reviens, reviens, radieuse,
Return, return in radiance,
Reviens, ô nuit mystérieuse!
Return, O mysterious night!
Composer
Gabriel Fauré
"Gabriel Urbain Fauré (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. Among his…
Poet
Romain Bussine
Romain Bussine was a French poet, baritone, and voice teacher who lived during the 19th century. In 1871, together with Camille Saint-Saëns and Henri Duparc, he founded the Société Nationale de Musique as a forum for promoting contemporary French…
Performances
Upcoming Performances
- Gabriel Fauré 21 Oct 2024
Previously performed at:
- 87. Nature's Songbook 21 Oct 2021
- 19. Magical Mysteries: Katharina Ruckgaber, Ashley Riches & Sholto Kynoch 14 Oct 2019