Philoktet
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Was tat ich dir Ulysses, dass du sie mir entsandt?
Die Waffe, die den Trojern des Todes Bote war,
Die auf der wüsten Insel mir Unterhalt gebar.
Es rauschen Vögelschwärme mir über’m greisen Haupt;
Ich greife nach dem Bogen, umsonst, er ist geraubt!
Aus dichtem Busche raschelt der braune Hirsch hervor:
Ich strecke leere Arme zur Nemesis empor.
Du schlauer König, scheue der Göttin Rächerblick!
Erbarme dich und stelle den Bogen mir zurück.
Philoctetes
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
What did I do to you, Ulysses, that you took from me the weapon that was the harbinger of death to the Trojans,
that gave me sustenance on this desolate island?
Flocks of birds sweep over my grey head;
I reach for my bow: in vain, it has been stolen.
The brown stag rushes from the dense thicket;
I stretch bare arms up to Nemesis.
Cunning king, beware the vengeful goddess’s gaze!
Take pity and restore to me my bow.
Philoktet
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Philoctetes
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Da sitz ich ohne Bogen und starre in den Sand.
I sit here without my bow, staring at the sand.
Was tat ich dir Ulysses, dass du sie mir entsandt?
What did I do to you, Ulysses, that you took from me the weapon that was the harbinger of death to the Trojans,
Die Waffe, die den Trojern des Todes Bote war,
that gave me sustenance on this desolate island?
Die auf der wüsten Insel mir Unterhalt gebar.
Es rauschen Vögelschwärme mir über’m greisen Haupt;
Flocks of birds sweep over my grey head;
Ich greife nach dem Bogen, umsonst, er ist geraubt!
I reach for my bow: in vain, it has been stolen.
Aus dichtem Busche raschelt der braune Hirsch hervor:
The brown stag rushes from the dense thicket;
Ich strecke leere Arme zur Nemesis empor.
I stretch bare arms up to Nemesis.
Du schlauer König, scheue der Göttin Rächerblick!
Cunning king, beware the vengeful goddess’s gaze!
Erbarme dich und stelle den Bogen mir zurück.
Take pity and restore to me my bow.
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Johann Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- A Brahms Fantasy 19 Oct 2023
- To the Distant Beloved: Robin Tritschler & Graham Johnson 03 Apr 2020