Songs
Atys
(1817)
D585
Atys
Der Knabe seufzt über’s grüne Meer, Vom fernenden Ufer kam er her,Er wünscht sich mächtige Schwingen, Die sollten ihn ins heimische Land, Woran ihn ewige Sehnsucht mahnt, Im rauschenden Fluge bringen.„O Heimweh! unergründlicher Schmerz, Was folterst du das junge Herz?Kann Liebe dich nicht verdrängen?So willst du die Frucht, die herrlich reift, Die Gold und flüssiger Purpur streift, Mit tödlichem Feuer versengen?„Ich liebe, ich rase, ich hab’ sie gesehn,Die Lüfte durchschnitt sie im Sturmeswehn, Auf löwengezogenem Wagen,Ich musste flehn: o nimm mich mit!Mein Leben ist düster und abgeblüht;Wirst du meine Bitte versagen?„Sie schaute mit gütigem Lächeln mich an; Nach Thrazien zog uns das Löwengespann, Da dien’ ich als Priester ihr eigen.Den Rasenden kränzt ein seliges Glück, Der Aufgewachte schaudert zurück:Kein Gott will sich hülfreich erzeigen.„Dort, hinter den Bergen im scheidenden Strahl’ Des Abends entschlummert mein väterlich Tal; O wär’ ich jenseits der Wellen!“Seufzet der Knabe. Doch Cymbelgetön Verkündet die Göttin; er stürzt von Höh’nIn Gründe und waldige Stellen.
Attis
With a sigh the youth gazes over the green sea; he came from a distant shore,and longs for mighty wingsthat would take him in whirring flightto the homelandfor which he yearns eternally.‘O longing for home, unfathomable pain, why do you torment the young heart? Can love not drive you out?Will you then scorch with your deadly fire the fruit that ripens gloriously,kissed by gold and liquid purple?‘I live, I rage, I have seen her;like a whirlwind she swept through the air in a chariot drawn by lions.I had to entreat: Take me with you!My life is bleak and barren.Will you deny my plea?‘She looked upon me with a kindly smile;the lions bore us off to Thracewhere I serve as her priest.The madman is filled with blissful happiness; but when he awakes he recoils in fear:there is no god to lend his aid.‘There beyond the mountain, in the dying raysof evening, my native valley begins to slumber.O that I might cross the waters!’Thus sighs the youth. But the clash of cymbals proclaims the goddess; he plunges from the heights into the woods deep below.
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
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 was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.
Information from Wikipedia. Read more here.
See Full Entry
Poet
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 to study Jurisprudence and Theology at the University of Vienna, both of which courses he finished. In 1814 he met the young composer Franz Schubert and his friends (Joseph von Spaun, Franz von Schober).
Mayrhofer wrote a lot of lyric poetry and published it in 1824.
47 Schubert songs and two of his operas are based on Mayrhofer’s lyric poems.
As a young man Mayrhofer had been hopelessly in love with Mina (Wilhelmina Watteroth), the daughter of Heinrich Watteroth, who was one of Mayrhofer's professors and for a short time also his landlord. In his late years Mayrhofer (like Schubert) fell in love with a young 15-year-old girl, the daughter of his landlord Doctor Strauss. Mayrhofer, who had been a hypochondriac all his life, committed suicide by jumping from the window of his office in Vienna.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
Atys
Attis
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
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 was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.
Information from Wikipedia. Read more here.
See Full Entry
Poet
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 to study Jurisprudence and Theology at the University of Vienna, both of which courses he finished. In 1814 he met the young composer Franz Schubert and his friends (Joseph von Spaun, Franz von Schober).
Mayrhofer wrote a lot of lyric poetry and published it in 1824.
47 Schubert songs and two of his operas are based on Mayrhofer’s lyric poems.
As a young man Mayrhofer had been hopelessly in love with Mina (Wilhelmina Watteroth), the daughter of Heinrich Watteroth, who was one of Mayrhofer's professors and for a short time also his landlord. In his late years Mayrhofer (like Schubert) fell in love with a young 15-year-old girl, the daughter of his landlord Doctor Strauss. Mayrhofer, who had been a hypochondriac all his life, committed suicide by jumping from the window of his office in Vienna.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
About Oxford Lieder
Oxford Lieder is one of the world's leading promoters of song and the winner of a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award. The focal point of each year is the two-week Oxford Lieder Festival in October.
Find out More