Songs
Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben
by Robert Schumann From Frauenliebe und -leben (1840) Op. 42 11–12.vii.1840
Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben
German source:
Adelbert von Chamisso
Es hat ein Traum mich berückt;
Wie hätt er doch unter allen
Mich Arme erhöht und beglückt?
Mir war’s, er habe gesprochen:
„Ich bin auf ewig dein“—
Mir war’s—ich träume noch immer,
Es kann ja nimmer so sein.
O lass im Traume mich sterben,
Gewieget an seiner Brust,
Den seligen Tod mich schlürfen
In Tränen unendlicher Lust.
I cannot grasp it, believe it
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
A dream has beguiled me;
How, from all women, could he
Have exalted and favoured poor me?
He said, I thought,
‘I am yours forever’,
I was, I thought, still dreaming,
After all, it can never be.
O let me, dreaming, die,
Cradled on his breast;
Let me savour blissful death
In tears of endless joy.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben
German source:
Adelbert von Chamisso
I cannot grasp it, believe it
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben,
I cannot grasp it, believe it,
Es hat ein Traum mich berückt;
A dream has beguiled me;
Wie hätt er doch unter allen
How, from all women, could he
Mich Arme erhöht und beglückt?
Have exalted and favoured poor me?
Mir war’s, er habe gesprochen:
He said, I thought,
„Ich bin auf ewig dein“—
‘I am yours forever’,
Mir war’s—ich träume noch immer,
I was, I thought, still dreaming,
Es kann ja nimmer so sein.
After all, it can never be.
O lass im Traume mich sterben,
O let me, dreaming, die,
Gewieget an seiner Brust,
Cradled on his breast;
Den seligen Tod mich schlürfen
Let me savour blissful death
In Tränen unendlicher Lust.
In tears of endless joy.
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
Poet
Adelbert von Chamisso
Adelbert von Chamisso was a German poet and botanist, author of Peter Schlemihl, a famous story about a man who sold his shadow. He was commonly known in French as Adelbert de Chamisso(t) de Boncourt, a name referring to the family estate at…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Album für die Frau 12 Oct 2024
- Young Artist Auditions (Session 8) 20 Apr 2024
- Barber Institute: Neil Balfour & Sholto Kynoch 03 Feb 2023
- Song at Cedars Hall: Neil Balfour & Sholto Kynoch 20 Jan 2023
- Song at Fairlight Hall: Neil Balfour & Sholto Kynoch 15 Jan 2023
- Song at Wolfson: Neil Balfour & Sholto Kynoch 12 Jan 2023