Guten Morgen, Richard Strauss

Guten Morgen, Richard Strauss

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norman lebrecht

June 11, 2014

He was born 150 years ago today. This must be his most covered song.





 richard strauss elisabeth schumann

Richard Strauss, Elisabeth Schumann. photo: George Grantham Bain

 

Now try this at home:
Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen,
Und auf dem Wege, den ich gehen werde,
Wird uns, di Glücklichen, sie wieder einin
Inmitten dieser sonnenatmenden Erde.

Und zu dem Strand, dem weiten, wogenblauen,
Werden wir still und langsam niedersteigen.
Stumm warden wir uns in die Augen Schauen,
Und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen.

And tomorrow the sun will shine again,
and on the path that I shall tread
it will again unite us in our happiness
in the midst of this sun-breathing earth.

And to the shore, broad and blue with waves,
we shall climb down, softly, slowly.
Silently we shall gaze into each other’s eyes,
and upon us will fall the wordless silence of happiness.

Comments

  • Will Duffay says:

    Lovely. Norman is the clear winner, for me. The effortlessness is extraordinary.

  • Dr Peter Lim says:

    These are his best—you meant coveted of course—typo.

    • norman lebrecht says:

      No, covered.

      • Michael says:

        I thought “covered” in this context meant performed by someone other than the original performer: who was she? Without that information in the post, the song is really the “most recorded”, although I like “coveted” for NL’s choices with the exception of the one that does not appear to have been sung in German!

        • Michael Schaffer says:

          The original performer was probably Strauss’ wife, Pauline de Ahna. He gave the four songs this one is part of to her as a wedding present.

          The selections above are all sung in German although in the case of Jessye Norman, it is hard to tell. I find that strange because she articulates very clearly, but I still can not understand a single word of the text (same in the 4 Last Songs which accompany this recording).

  • Michael Endres says:

    Elizabeth Schumann’s version is extraordinary.

    • Michael Schaffer says:

      I agree. That’s how I think a Lied should be sung. Too many singers belt out Lieder like dramatic arias to show off their voice.

  • Paul Pellay says:

    Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, Dr. Strauß!

    • Michael Schaffer says:

      Richard Strauss’ last name is spelled with two s, not ß.

      BTW, contrary to popular opinion, Johann Strauss II (not a relative of Richard, of course) also spelled his name with two s rather than ß.

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