Text & Translation
Geheimes
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Stehn verwundert alle Leute;
Ich, der Wissende, dagegen,
Weiss recht gut, was das bedeute.
Denn es heisst: ich liebe diesen
Und nicht etwa den und jenen.
Lasset nur, ihr guten Leute,
Euer Wundern, euer Sehnen!
Ja, mit ungeheuren Mächten
Blicket sie wohl in die Runde;
Doch sie sucht nur zu verkünden
Ihm die nächste süsse Stunde.
A secret
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
at the eyes my sweetheart makes;
but I, who understand,
know very well what they mean.
For they are saying: he is the one I love,
not this one or that one.
So, good people,
cease your wondering and your longing!
Indeed, she may well look about her
with a mightily powerful eye,
but she seeks only to give him a foretaste
of the next sweet hour.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Geheimes
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A secret
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Über meines Liebchens Äugeln
Everyone is astonished
Stehn verwundert alle Leute;
at the eyes my sweetheart makes;
Ich, der Wissende, dagegen,
but I, who understand,
Weiss recht gut, was das bedeute.
know very well what they mean.
Denn es heisst: ich liebe diesen
For they are saying: he is the one I love,
Und nicht etwa den und jenen.
not this one or that one.
Lasset nur, ihr guten Leute,
So, good people,
Euer Wundern, euer Sehnen!
cease your wondering and your longing!
Ja, mit ungeheuren Mächten
Indeed, she may well look about her
Blicket sie wohl in die Runde;
with a mightily powerful eye,
Doch sie sucht nur zu verkünden
but she seeks only to give him a foretaste
Ihm die nächste süsse Stunde.
of the next sweet hour.
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 Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 48. Werner Güra, Christoph Berner: Schubert Ballads 23 Oct 2022
- 35. Schubert & Co.: A Schubertiade 20 Oct 2022
- 11. The West-Eastern Divan: Ian Bostridge & Julius Drake 11 Oct 2020
- Goethe - A Life in Songs: Christopher Maltman & Graham Johnson 07 Apr 2019
- Song at Wolfson / Alice Privett: Schubert, Strauss and Mahler 31 Jan 2019
- Oxford Lieder at Fairlight Hall: Alice Privett sings Schubert, Strauss and Mahler 27 Jan 2019
- Rycote Park - Jessica Dandy, Julien van Mellaerts & Sholto Kynoch 19 Apr 2018