Songs

Italien

by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel

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Text & Translation

Italien
German source: Franz Grillparzer

Schöner und schöner
Schmückt sich der Plan,
Schmeichelnde Winde
Wehen mich an;

Fort aus der Prosa
Lasten und Müh,
Flieg ich zum Lande
Der Poesie;

Goldner die Sonne,
Blauer die Luft,
Grüner die Grüne,
Würzger der Duft.

Dort an dem Maishalm,
Schwellend von Saft,
Sträubt sich der Aloe
Störrische Kraft.

Ölbaum, Cypresse,
Blond du, du braun,
Nickt ihr wie zierliche,
Grüßende Fraun?

Was glänzt im Laube,
Funkelnd wie Gold?
Ha, Pomeranze,
Birgst du dich hold!

Trotzger Poseidon,
Warest du dies,
Der unten scherzt und
Murmelt so süß?

Und dies halb Wiese, halb
Äther zu schaun,
Es war des Meeres
Furchtbares Graun?

Hier will ich wohnen!
Göttliche du,
Bringst du, Parthenope,
Wogen zur Ruh?

Nun dann versuch es,
Eden der Lust,
Ebne die Wogen
Auch dieser Brust!

Italy
English translation © Richard Stokes

The plain grows
Fairer and fairer,
Flattering breezes
Blow in my face;

Away from the burden
And effort of prose,
I fly to the land
Of poetry;

The sun is more golden,
The air is more blue,
Green is more green,
Fragrance more fragrant!

There by the cornfields,
Swelling with sap,
The aloe rises up
With stubborn strength!

Olive tree, cypress,
White and brown,
Do you not greet us
Like gracious women?

What gleams in the foliage,
Sparkling like gold?
Is it you, orange-tree,
So charmingly concealed!

Defiant Neptune,
Was it you
Joking and murmuring
So sweetly below?

What seemed half-meadow
And half-heaven above,
Was really the ocean’s
Awesome horror?

Here, divine one,
Is where I would live!
Can you, Parthenope,
Quieten waves?

Then try,
O Eden of delight,
To quieten the panting
Of this breast!

Italien
German source: Franz Grillparzer

Italy
English source: Richard Stokes

Schöner und schöner
The plain grows
Schmückt sich der Plan,
Fairer and fairer,
Schmeichelnde Winde
Flattering breezes
Wehen mich an;
Blow in my face;

Fort aus der Prosa
Away from the burden
Lasten und Müh,
And effort of prose,
Flieg ich zum Lande
I fly to the land
Der Poesie;
Of poetry;

Goldner die Sonne,
The sun is more golden,
Blauer die Luft,
The air is more blue,
Grüner die Grüne,
Green is more green,
Würzger der Duft.
Fragrance more fragrant!

Dort an dem Maishalm,
There by the cornfields,
Schwellend von Saft,
Swelling with sap,
Sträubt sich der Aloe
The aloe rises up
Störrische Kraft.
With stubborn strength!

Ölbaum, Cypresse,
Olive tree, cypress,
Blond du, du braun,
White and brown,
Nickt ihr wie zierliche,
Do you not greet us
Grüßende Fraun?
Like gracious women?

Was glänzt im Laube,
What gleams in the foliage,
Funkelnd wie Gold?
Sparkling like gold?
Ha, Pomeranze,
Is it you, orange-tree,
Birgst du dich hold!
So charmingly concealed!

Trotzger Poseidon,
Defiant Neptune,
Warest du dies,
Was it you
Der unten scherzt und
Joking and murmuring
Murmelt so süß?
So sweetly below?

Und dies halb Wiese, halb
What seemed half-meadow
Äther zu schaun,
And half-heaven above,
Es war des Meeres
Was really the ocean’s
Furchtbares Graun?
Awesome horror?

Hier will ich wohnen!
Here, divine one,
Göttliche du,
Is where I would live!
Bringst du, Parthenope,
Can you, Parthenope,
Wogen zur Ruh?
Quieten waves?

Nun dann versuch es,
Then try,
Eden der Lust,
O Eden of delight,
Ebne die Wogen
To quieten the panting
Auch dieser Brust!
Of this breast!

Composer

Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel

Fanny Hensel, née Mendelssohn (1805-47), was an exceptionally gifted musician whose potential was stifled by the gendered social conventions of her upper-middle-class background in mid-19th-century Berlin. She came from a wealthy and cultivated…

Poet

Franz Grillparzer

Franz Grillparzer was one of Schubert's most famous and celebrated contemporaries. His plays still hold the stage, particularly in his native Austria. Like Schubert, he was born in Vienna, but unlike the composer he moved in a milieu of…

Performances

Previously performed at:

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