Text & Translation
Norden
Swedish source:
Johan Ludvig Runeberg
Sjöarna frysa...
Flyttande svanor,
Seglen, o seglen
Sorgsna till södern,
Söken dess nödspis,
Längtande åter;
Plöjen dess sjöar,
Saknande våra!
Då skall ett öga
Se er från palmens
Skugga och tala:
"Tynande Svanor,
Hvilken förtrollning
Hvilar på norden?
Den som från södern
Längtar, hans längtan
Söker en himmel."
The North
English translation ©
Maria Forsström
The lakes are freezing ...
Moving swans,
Sail, o sail
Sorrowful to the South
Looking for its meagre fare,
Longing back,
Plowing its lakes,
Missing ours!
Then shall an eye
See you from the palm's
Shadow and speak:
"Swans, languishing away,
What enchantment
Lies upon the North?
He, who from the South
Is longing, his longing
Seeks a heaven."
Norden
Swedish source:
Johan Ludvig Runeberg
The North
English source:
Maria Forsström
Löfven de falla,
The leaves are falling,
Sjöarna frysa...
The lakes are freezing ...
Flyttande svanor,
Moving swans,
Seglen, o seglen
Sail, o sail
Sorgsna till södern,
Sorrowful to the South
Söken dess nödspis,
Looking for its meagre fare,
Längtande åter;
Longing back,
Plöjen dess sjöar,
Plowing its lakes,
Saknande våra!
Missing ours!
Då skall ett öga
Then shall an eye
Se er från palmens
See you from the palm's
Skugga och tala:
Shadow and speak:
"Tynande Svanor,
"Swans, languishing away,
Hvilken förtrollning
What enchantment
Hvilar på norden?
Lies upon the North?
Den som från södern
He, who from the South
Längtar, hans längtan
Is longing, his longing
Söker en himmel."
Seeks a heaven."
Composer
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is best known for his set of seven symphonies, but he also composed over a hundred songs for voice and piano, and various pieces inspired by nature…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 13. Ten Years of the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform 10 Oct 2021
- 26. Sibelius and Rachmaninov: Jacques Imbrailo & Alisdair Hogarth 16 Oct 2019
- Exploring Nordic Song 20 Oct 2018
- Sibelius & Mahler: Maria Forsström & Matti Hirvonen 22 Oct 2017