Songs

Zwei Venetianische Lieder II „Wenn durch die Piazzetta“

by Robert Schumann From Myrthen (1840) Op. 25 i–early iv 1840

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Text & Translation

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Zwei Venetianische Lieder II „Wenn durch die Piazzetta“
German source: Ferdinand Freiligrath

Wenn durch die Piazzetta
Die Abendluft weht,
Dann weisst du, Ninetta,
Wer wartend hier steht.

Du weisst, wer trotz Schleier
Und Maske dich kennt,
Wie Amor die Venus
Am Nachtfirmament.

Ein Schifferkleid trag’ ich
Zur selbigen Zeit,
Und zitternd dir sag’ ich:
Das Boot liegt bereit!

O komm, wo den Mond
Noch Wolken umzieh’n,
Lass durch die Lagunen,
Mein Leben, uns flieh’n!

Two Venetian Airs II "When through the Piazzetta"
English translation © Richard Stokes

When through the Piazzetta
The night air drifts,
Then you know, Ninetta,
Who’s waiting here.

You know who, despite your veil
And mask, recognizes you;
As Amor knows Venus
In the night sky.

At that very hour
I’ll come dressed as a gondolier,
And trembling, tell you:
The boat lies ready!

O come now, while the moon
Is still covered in clouds,
Let us flee, my love,
Across the lagoons!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Zwei Venetianische Lieder II „Wenn durch die Piazzetta“
German source: Ferdinand Freiligrath

Two Venetian Airs II "When through the Piazzetta"
English source: Richard Stokes

Wenn durch die Piazzetta
When through the Piazzetta
Die Abendluft weht,
The night air drifts,
Dann weisst du, Ninetta,
Then you know, Ninetta,
Wer wartend hier steht.
Who’s waiting here.

Du weisst, wer trotz Schleier
You know who, despite your veil
Und Maske dich kennt,
And mask, recognizes you;
Wie Amor die Venus
As Amor knows Venus
Am Nachtfirmament.
In the night sky.

Ein Schifferkleid trag’ ich
At that very hour
Zur selbigen Zeit,
I’ll come dressed as a gondolier,
Und zitternd dir sag’ ich:
And trembling, tell you:
Das Boot liegt bereit!
The boat lies ready!

O komm, wo den Mond
O come now, while the moon
Noch Wolken umzieh’n,
Is still covered in clouds,
Lass durch die Lagunen,
Let us flee, my love,
Mein Leben, uns flieh’n!
Across the lagoons!

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…

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