Cäcilie
German source:
Heinrich Hart
Was träumen heißt
Von brennenden Küssen,
Vom Wandern und Ruhen
Mit der Geliebten,
Aug’ in Auge,
Und kosend und plaudernd –
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
Du neigtest Dein Herz!
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
Was bangen heißt
In einsamen Nächten,
Umschauert vom Sturm,
Da Niemand tröstet
Milden Mundes
Die kampfmüde Seele –
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
Du kämest zu mir.
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
Was leben heißt,
Umhaucht von der Gottheit
Weltschaffendem Atem,
Zu schweben empor,
Lichtgetragen,
Zu seligen Höh’en,
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
Du lebtest mit mir.
Cecily
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
What it is to dream
Of burning kisses,
Of walking and resting
With one’s love,
Gazing at each other
And caressing and talking –
If you knew,
Your heart would turn to me.
If you knew
What it is to worry
On lonely nights
In the frightening storm,
With no soft voice
To comfort
The struggle-weary soul –
If you knew,
You would come to me.
If you knew
What it is to live
Enveloped in God’s
World-creating breath,
To soar upwards,
Borne on light
To blessed heights –
If you knew,
You would live with me.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Cäcilie
German source:
Heinrich Hart
Cecily
English source:
Richard Stokes
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
If you knew
Was träumen heißt
What it is to dream
Von brennenden Küssen,
Of burning kisses,
Vom Wandern und Ruhen
Of walking and resting
Mit der Geliebten,
With one’s love,
Aug’ in Auge,
Gazing at each other
Und kosend und plaudernd –
And caressing and talking –
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
If you knew,
Du neigtest Dein Herz!
Your heart would turn to me.
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
If you knew
Was bangen heißt
What it is to worry
In einsamen Nächten,
On lonely nights
Umschauert vom Sturm,
In the frightening storm,
Da Niemand tröstet
With no soft voice
Milden Mundes
To comfort
Die kampfmüde Seele –
The struggle-weary soul –
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
If you knew,
Du kämest zu mir.
You would come to me.
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
If you knew
Was leben heißt,
What it is to live
Umhaucht von der Gottheit
Enveloped in God’s
Weltschaffendem Atem,
World-creating breath,
Zu schweben empor,
To soar upwards,
Lichtgetragen,
Borne on light
Zu seligen Höh’en,
To blessed heights –
Wenn Du es wüßtest,
If you knew,
Du lebtest mit mir.
You would live with me.
Composer
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems. Read more here.
Poet
Heinrich Hart
Heinrich Hart was a German author and naturalist literary and theatre critic. Together with his brother and close collaborator, Julius Hart, he became a pioneer of naturalism in German literature.
Performances
Previously performed at:
- La bonne Chanson 26 Oct 2024
- Night and Dreams 17 Oct 2024
- 68. Mastercourse Day Five 28 Oct 2022
- 64. Mastercourse Day Four 27 Oct 2022
- 58. Mastercourse Day Three 26 Oct 2022
- 54. Mastercourse Day Two 25 Oct 2022
- 50. Mastercourse Day One 24 Oct 2022
- 24. James Gilchrist & Anna Tilbrook: 25 years of Friendship in Song 18 Oct 2022
- Mahler: A life in Song Part II 21 Oct 2017
- Richard Strauss: Mary Bevan, Nicky Spence & Roger Vignoles 18 Oct 2017
- My Dearest Hedgehog 15 Oct 2017
- Opening Night: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Kemp, Alder, Spence, Henschel 13 Oct 2017