This song was recorded on the album 'Robert and Clara Schumann: Rückert Lieder' on Stone Records (in collaboration with BBC Music Magazine). Featuring every piano-accompanied setting of the poet Friedrich Rückert by both Robert and Clara Schumann, including duets and ensembles, it was recorded in preparation for Oxford Lieder's The Schumann Project in 2016.
Click here to listen to this song with Mary Bevan and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.
Text & Translation
Liebst du um Schönheit
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
O nicht mich liebe!
Liebe die Sonne,
Sie trägt ein goldnes Haar.
Liebst du um Jugend,
O nicht mich liebe!
Liebe den Frühling,
Der jung ist jedes Jahr.
Liebst du um Schätze,
O nicht mich liebe!
Liebe die Meerfrau,
Sie hat viel Perlen klar.
Liebst du um Liebe,
O ja, mich liebe!
Liebe mich immer,
Dich lieb’ ich immerdar.
If you love for beauty
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
O love not me!
Love the sun,
She has golden hair.
If you love for youth,
O love not me!
Love the spring
Which is young each year.
If you love for riches,
O love not me!
Love the mermaid
Who has many shining pearls.
If you love for love,
Ah yes, love me!
Love me always,
I shall love you ever more.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Liebst du um Schönheit
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
If you love for beauty
English source:
Richard Stokes
Liebst du um Schönheit,
If you love for beauty,
O nicht mich liebe!
O love not me!
Liebe die Sonne,
Love the sun,
Sie trägt ein goldnes Haar.
She has golden hair.
Liebst du um Jugend,
If you love for youth,
O nicht mich liebe!
O love not me!
Liebe den Frühling,
Love the spring
Der jung ist jedes Jahr.
Which is young each year.
Liebst du um Schätze,
If you love for riches,
O nicht mich liebe!
O love not me!
Liebe die Meerfrau,
Love the mermaid
Sie hat viel Perlen klar.
Who has many shining pearls.
Liebst du um Liebe,
If you love for love,
O ja, mich liebe!
Ah yes, love me!
Liebe mich immer,
Love me always,
Dich lieb’ ich immerdar.
I shall love you ever more.
Composer
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian late-Romantic composer and conductor. Read more about him here.
Poet
Friedrich Rückert
Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Vienna to London 23 Oct 2023
- 76. Dreams - Wesendonck Lieder: Dorothea Röschmann & Malcolm Martineau 25 Oct 2019
- Oxford Lieder at Fairlight Hall: Rozanna Madylus Sings Alma and Gustav Mahler, Lili Boulanger and Rebecca Clarke 10 Mar 2019
- Song at Wolfson / Rozanna Madylus: Mahler Rückert Lieder 28 Feb 2019
- Stockholm to Vienna: Camilla Tilling & Paul Rivinius 20 Oct 2018
- Mastercourse Day One 23 Oct 2017
- Mahler: A life in Song Part II 21 Oct 2017