Listen to Franz Schubert's 'Die Forelle' below, performed as part of the Oxford Lieder Winter into Spring Festival in February 2021 by Irish soprano Ailish Tynan and pianist Iain Burnside.
Die Forelle
German source:
Schubart, Christian
Da schoß in froher Eil'
Die launische Forelle
Vorüber wie ein Pfeil.
Ich stand an dem Gestade
Und sah in süßer Ruh
Des muntern Fischleins Bade
Im klaren Bächlein zu.
Ein Fischer mit der Rute
Wohl an dem Ufer stand,
Und sah's mit kaltem Blute,
Wie sich das Fischlein wand.
So lang dem Wasser Helle,
So dacht ich, nicht gebricht,
So fängt er die Forelle
Mit seiner Angel nicht.
Doch endlich ward dem Diebe
Die Zeit zu lang. Er macht
Das Bächlein tückisch trübe,
Und eh ich es gedacht,
So zuckte seine Rute,
Das Fischlein zappelt dran,
Und ich mit regem Blute
Sah die Betrogene an.
The trout
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
the capricious trout
in joyous haste
darted by like an arrow.
I stood on the bank
in blissful peace, watching
the lively fish swim
in the clear brook.
An angler with his rod
stood on the bank
cold-bloodedly watching
the fish’s contortions.
As long as the water
is clear, I thought,
he won’t catch the trout
with his rod.
But at length the thief
grew impatient. Cunningly
he made the brook cloudy,
and in an instant
his rod quivered,
and the fish struggled on it.
And I, my blood boiling,
looked on at the cheated creature.
Die Forelle
German source:
Schubart, Christian
The trout
English source:
Richard Wigmore
In einem Bächlein helle,
In a limpid brook
Da schoß in froher Eil'
the capricious trout
Die launische Forelle
in joyous haste
Vorüber wie ein Pfeil.
darted by like an arrow.
Ich stand an dem Gestade
I stood on the bank
Und sah in süßer Ruh
in blissful peace, watching
Des muntern Fischleins Bade
the lively fish swim
Im klaren Bächlein zu.
in the clear brook.
Ein Fischer mit der Rute
An angler with his rod
Wohl an dem Ufer stand,
stood on the bank
Und sah's mit kaltem Blute,
cold-bloodedly watching
Wie sich das Fischlein wand.
the fish’s contortions.
So lang dem Wasser Helle,
As long as the water
So dacht ich, nicht gebricht,
is clear, I thought,
So fängt er die Forelle
he won’t catch the trout
Mit seiner Angel nicht.
with his rod.
Doch endlich ward dem Diebe
But at length the thief
Die Zeit zu lang. Er macht
grew impatient. Cunningly
Das Bächlein tückisch trübe,
he made the brook cloudy,
Und eh ich es gedacht,
and in an instant
So zuckte seine Rute,
his rod quivered,
Das Fischlein zappelt dran,
and the fish struggled on it.
Und ich mit regem Blute
And I, my blood boiling,
Sah die Betrogene an.
looked on at the cheated creature.
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
Schubart, Christian
Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart, was a German poet, organist, composer, and journalist. He was repeatedly punished for his writing and spent ten years in severe conditions in jail. Born at Obersontheim in Swabia, he entered the University of…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 47. Birgid Steinberger, Julius Drake: Schubert & the Sounds of Vienna 23 Oct 2022
- 99. Robin Tritschler: To the Distant Beloved 22 Oct 2021
- 09. The Shepherd on the Rock: Ailish Tynan & Iain Burnside 28 Feb 2021
- 80. Dangerous Liaisons: Louise Alder, Nikolay Borchev & Sholto Kynoch 26 Oct 2019
- 37. Nature's Beauty: James Newby & Simon Lepper 18 Oct 2019
- Mastercourse Concert 28 Oct 2017
- Franz Schubert: Alessandro Fisher & Sholto Kynoch 23 Oct 2017
- Mastercourse Day One 23 Oct 2017
- Franz Schubert: Katharina Ruckgaber & Sholto Kynoch 16 Oct 2017