Songs
La mer est plus belle que les cathédrales
by Claude Debussy From Trois Mélodies sur des poèmes de Paul Verlaine (1891) L81
La mer est plus belle que les cathédrales
French source:
Paul Verlaine
Que les cathédrales,
Nourrice fidèle,
Berceuse de râles,
La mer sur qui prie
La Vierge Marie!
Elle a tous les dons
Terribles et doux.
J’entends ses pardons
Gronder ses courroux.
Cette immensité
N’a rien d’entêté.
Oh! si patiente,
Même quand méchante!
Un souffle ami hante
La vague, et nous chante:
«Vous, sans espérance,
Mourez sans souffrance!»
Et puis, sous les cieux
Qui s’y rient plus clairs,
Elle a des airs bleus,
Roses, gris et verts …
Plus belle que tous,
Meilleure que nous!
The sea is lovelier than the cathedrals
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Than the cathedrals;
A faithful wet-nurse
Lulling those in the grip of death,
The sea over which
The Virgin Mary prays!
It has all the qualities,
Awesome and sweet.
I hear its forgiveness
Scolding its wrath …
This immensity
Is without wilfulness.
Oh, so forbearing,
Even when wicked!
A friendly breath haunts
The wave, and sings to us:
‘You without hope,
May you die without pain!’
And then beneath the skies,
Reflected there more brightly,
It seems blue,
Pink, grey, and green …
Lovelier than all,
Better than we!
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)
La mer est plus belle que les cathédrales
French source:
Paul Verlaine
The sea is lovelier than the cathedrals
English source:
Richard Stokes
La mer est plus belle
The sea is lovelier
Que les cathédrales,
Than the cathedrals;
Nourrice fidèle,
A faithful wet-nurse
Berceuse de râles,
Lulling those in the grip of death,
La mer sur qui prie
The sea over which
La Vierge Marie!
The Virgin Mary prays!
Elle a tous les dons
It has all the qualities,
Terribles et doux.
Awesome and sweet.
J’entends ses pardons
I hear its forgiveness
Gronder ses courroux.
Scolding its wrath …
Cette immensité
This immensity
N’a rien d’entêté.
Is without wilfulness.
Oh! si patiente,
Oh, so forbearing,
Même quand méchante!
Even when wicked!
Un souffle ami hante
A friendly breath haunts
La vague, et nous chante:
The wave, and sings to us:
«Vous, sans espérance,
‘You without hope,
Mourez sans souffrance!»
May you die without pain!’
Et puis, sous les cieux
And then beneath the skies,
Qui s’y rient plus clairs,
Reflected there more brightly,
Elle a des airs bleus,
It seems blue,
Roses, gris et verts …
Pink, grey, and green …
Plus belle que tous,
Lovelier than all,
Meilleure que nous!
Better than we!
Composer
Claude Debussy
(Achille) Claude Debussy was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Please click…
Poet
Paul Verlaine
Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry. Born in Metz, Verlaine was educated at the Lycée Impérial…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Young Artist Auditions (Session 3) 19 Apr 2024
- Mastercourse Concert 27 Oct 2018