Märzveilchen
German source:
Adelbert von Chamisso
Der Reif stellt Blumen aus zur Schau.
Am Fenster prangt ein flimmernder Flor.
Ein Jüngling steht, ihn betrachtend, davor.
Und hinter den Blumen blühet noch gar
Ein blaues, ein lächelndes Augenpaar.
Märzveilchen, wie jener noch keine gesehn.
Der Reif wird angehaucht zergehn.
Eisblumen fangen zu schmelzen an,
Und Gott sei gnädig dem jungen Mann.
March violets
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The hoar-frost fashions flowers.
The window-pane gleams with shimmering blossom,
A young man stands there, looking on.
And blossoming behind those flowers
Is a pair of smiling blue eyes.
March violets, sweeter than he’d ever seen.
A single breath will melt the frost.
The icy flowers begin to thaw—
May the Lord have mercy on that young man.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Märzveilchen
German source:
Adelbert von Chamisso
March violets
English source:
Richard Stokes
Der Himmel wölbt sich rein und blau,
The sky arches clear and blue;
Der Reif stellt Blumen aus zur Schau.
The hoar-frost fashions flowers.
Am Fenster prangt ein flimmernder Flor.
The window-pane gleams with shimmering blossom,
Ein Jüngling steht, ihn betrachtend, davor.
A young man stands there, looking on.
Und hinter den Blumen blühet noch gar
And blossoming behind those flowers
Ein blaues, ein lächelndes Augenpaar.
Is a pair of smiling blue eyes.
Märzveilchen, wie jener noch keine gesehn.
March violets, sweeter than he’d ever seen.
Der Reif wird angehaucht zergehn.
A single breath will melt the frost.
Eisblumen fangen zu schmelzen an,
The icy flowers begin to thaw—
Und Gott sei gnädig dem jungen Mann.
May the Lord have mercy on that young man.
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:
- 76. Dame Sarah Connolly, Eugene Asti: Brahms, Schumann, Mahler 29 Oct 2022
- 25b. The Wanderer 12 Oct 2021
- 16. The Fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen: Lotte Betts-Dean & Joseph Havlat 14 Oct 2019
- La Bonne Chanson: Mark Padmore & Imogen Cooper 19 Oct 2017
- Robert & Clara, Songs & Duets: Sophie Karthäuser, Sarah Connolly & Eugene Asti 15 Oct 2016