Listen to Franz Schubert's setting of 'Du bist die Ruh' below, performed by award-winning British bass William Thomas and internationally-renowned pianist Eugene Asti live at the Oxford Lieder Festival 2020.
Text & Translation
Du bist die Ruh
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
Der Friede mild,
Die Sehnsucht du
Und was sie stillt.
Ich weihe dir
Voll Lust und Schmerz
Zur Wohnung hier
Mein Aug und Herz.
Kehr ein bei mir,
Und schließe du
Still hinter dir
Die Pforten zu.
Treib andern Schmerz
Aus dieser Brust.
Voll sei dies Herz
Von deiner Lust.
Dies Augenzelt
Von deinem Glanz
Allein erhellt,
O füll es ganz!
You are repose
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
And gentle peace,
You are longing
And what stills it.
I pledge to you
Full of joy and pain
As a dwelling here
My eyes and heart.
Come in to me,
And softly close
The gate
Behind you.
Drive other pain
From this breast!
Let my heart be filled
With your joy.
This temple of my eyes
Is lit
By your radiance alone,
O fill it utterly.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Du bist die Ruh
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
You are repose
English source:
Richard Stokes
Du bist die Ruh,
You are repose
Der Friede mild,
And gentle peace,
Die Sehnsucht du
You are longing
Und was sie stillt.
And what stills it.
Ich weihe dir
I pledge to you
Voll Lust und Schmerz
Full of joy and pain
Zur Wohnung hier
As a dwelling here
Mein Aug und Herz.
My eyes and heart.
Kehr ein bei mir,
Come in to me,
Und schließe du
And softly close
Still hinter dir
The gate
Die Pforten zu.
Behind you.
Treib andern Schmerz
Drive other pain
Aus dieser Brust.
From this breast!
Voll sei dies Herz
Let my heart be filled
Von deiner Lust.
With your joy.
Dies Augenzelt
This temple of my eyes
Von deinem Glanz
Is lit
Allein erhellt,
By your radiance alone,
O füll es ganz!
O fill it utterly.
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
Friedrich Rückert
Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Schubert in 1823: The Refiner's Fire 21 Oct 2023
- Song at Wolfson: Nazan Fikret & Sholto Kynoch - On this Island 11 May 2023
- Song at Fairlight Hall: Nazan Fikret & Sholto Kynoch - On this Island 07 May 2023
- 75. Ilker Arcayürek: The Path of Life 19 Oct 2021
- 11. The West-Eastern Divan: Ian Bostridge & Julius Drake 11 Oct 2020
- 05. Schumann and Mahler: Sarah Connolly & Eugene Asti 10 Oct 2020
- 4. Schubert and Grieg: Camilla Tilling, Neal Davies, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Jac van Steen 11 Oct 2019
- Songs from the East: Benjamin Appl & Graham Johnson 17 Oct 2017