Songs

Der entsühnte Orest

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

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Der entsühnte Orest
German source: Johann Mayrhofer

Zu meinen Füssen brichst du dich,
O heimatliches Meer,
Und murmelst sanft: „Triumph, Triumph!“
Ich schwinge Schwert und Speer.

Mykene ehrt als König mich,
Beut meinem Wirken Raum,
Und über meinem Scheitel saust
Des Lebens goldner Baum.

Mit morgendlichen Rosen schmückt
Der Frühling meine Bahn,
Und auf der Liebe Wellen schwebt
Dahin mein leichter Kahn.

Diana naht; o Retterin,
Erhöre du mein Fleh’n!
Lass mich, das Höchste wurde mir,
Zu meinen Vätern geh’n!

Orestes Purified
English translation © Richard Wigmore

You break at my feet,
sea of my homeland,
and softly murmur: ‘Triumph! Triumph!’
I wield my sword and spear.

Mycenae honours me as King,
offers me freedom for my actions;
and above my head rustles
the golden tree of life.

Spring adorns my path
with fresh roses,
and my boat glides lightly along
on waves of love.

Diana approaches; my saviour,
hear my prayer!
Let me know the highest joy:
let me return to my fathers.

Der entsühnte Orest
German source: Johann Mayrhofer

Orestes Purified
English source: Richard Wigmore

Zu meinen Füssen brichst du dich,
You break at my feet,
O heimatliches Meer,
sea of my homeland,
Und murmelst sanft: „Triumph, Triumph!“
and softly murmur: ‘Triumph! Triumph!’
Ich schwinge Schwert und Speer.
I wield my sword and spear.

Mykene ehrt als König mich,
Mycenae honours me as King,
Beut meinem Wirken Raum,
offers me freedom for my actions;
Und über meinem Scheitel saust
and above my head rustles
Des Lebens goldner Baum.
the golden tree of life.

Mit morgendlichen Rosen schmückt
Spring adorns my path
Der Frühling meine Bahn,
with fresh roses,
Und auf der Liebe Wellen schwebt
and my boat glides lightly along
Dahin mein leichter Kahn.
on waves of love.

Diana naht; o Retterin,
Diana approaches; my saviour,
Erhöre du mein Fleh’n!
hear my prayer!
Lass mich, das Höchste wurde mir,
Let me know the highest joy:
Zu meinen Vätern geh’n!
let me return to my fathers.

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…

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