Text & Translation
Erlafsee
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Am stillen Erlafsee;
Heilig Schweigen
In Fichtenzweigen,
Regungslos
Der blaue Schoß,
Nur der Wolken Schatten flieh'n
Über'm glatten Spiegel hin,
Frische Winde
Kräuseln linde
Das Gewässer
Und der Sonne
Güldne Krone
Flimmert blässer.
Mir ist so wohl, so weh
Am stillen Erlafsee.
Lake Erlaf
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
By quiet Lake Erlaf:
Sacred silence
In the pine branches.
Motionless
The blue depths;
Only cloud shadows flit
Across the glassy surface.
Fresh breezes
Gently ruffle
The water;
And the sun’s
Golden crown
Grows paler.
I feel so happy, so sad
By quiet Lake Erlaf.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Erlafsee
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Lake Erlaf
English source:
Richard Stokes
Mir ist so wohl, so weh
I feel so happy, so sad
Am stillen Erlafsee;
By quiet Lake Erlaf:
Heilig Schweigen
Sacred silence
In Fichtenzweigen,
In the pine branches.
Regungslos
Motionless
Der blaue Schoß,
The blue depths;
Nur der Wolken Schatten flieh'n
Only cloud shadows flit
Über'm glatten Spiegel hin,
Across the glassy surface.
Frische Winde
Fresh breezes
Kräuseln linde
Gently ruffle
Das Gewässer
The water;
Und der Sonne
And the sun’s
Güldne Krone
Golden crown
Flimmert blässer.
Grows paler.
Mir ist so wohl, so weh
I feel so happy, so sad
Am stillen Erlafsee.
By quiet Lake Erlaf.
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…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Roderick Williams & Roger Vignoles 21 Apr 2024
- Schubert, Fauré and Quilter: Klemens Sander & Sholto Kynoch 31 Mar 2020
- Franz Schubert: Alessandro Fisher & Sholto Kynoch 23 Oct 2017