Songs
Adelaide
(1795)
Op.46
Adelaide
Einsam wandelt dein Freund im Frühlingsgarten,Mild vom lieblichen Zauberlicht umflossen,Das durch wankende Blütenzweige zittert,Adelaide!In der spiegelnden Flut, im Schnee der Alpen,In des sinkenden Tages Goldgewölken,Im Gefilde der Sterne strahlt dein Bildnis,Adelaide!Abendlüfte im zarten Laube flüstern,Silberglöckchen des Mais im Grase säuseln,Wellen rauschen und Nachtigallen flöten:Adelaide!Einst, o Wunder! entblüht auf meinem GrabeEine Blume der Asche meines Herzens;Deutlich schimmert auf jedem Purpurblättchen:Adelaide!
Adelaide
Your friend wanders lonely in the spring garden, Gently bathed in the magical sweet lightThat shimmers through swaying boughs in bloom,Adelaide! In the mirroring waves, in the Alpine snows,In the golden clouds of the dying day, In the fields of stars your image shines,Adelaide! Evening breezes whisper in the tender leaves, The silvery bells of May rustle in the grass, Waves murmur and nightingales sing:Adelaide!One day, O miracle! there shall bloom on my graveA flower from the ashes of my heart; On every purple leaf shall clearly shimmer: Adelaide!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Composer
Poet
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven.
He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761. After studying theology and philology at the university of Halle, he was appointed in 1781 master at the classical school Philanthropinum in Dessau. This once famous seminary was, however, then rapidly decaying in public favor, and in 1784 Matthisson was glad to accept a travelling tutorship. He lived for two years with the Swiss author Bonstetten at Nyon on Lake Geneva.
In 1794 he was appointed reader and traveling companion to Princess Louisa of Anhalt-Dessau (wife of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau). They visited Switzerland, Tyrol, and Italy. For a time, they were joined in their travels by Danish author and salonist Friederike Brun. After Princess Louisa's death in 1811, he entered the service of the king of Württemberg, was ennobled, created counselor of legation, appointed intendant of the court theatre and chief librarian of the royal library at Stuttgart. He resided for a time in Italy. In 1828 he retired and settled at Wörlitz near Dessau, where he died on the 12th of March 1831.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
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Previously performed at:
Adelaide
Adelaide
Composer
Poet
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven.
He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761. After studying theology and philology at the university of Halle, he was appointed in 1781 master at the classical school Philanthropinum in Dessau. This once famous seminary was, however, then rapidly decaying in public favor, and in 1784 Matthisson was glad to accept a travelling tutorship. He lived for two years with the Swiss author Bonstetten at Nyon on Lake Geneva.
In 1794 he was appointed reader and traveling companion to Princess Louisa of Anhalt-Dessau (wife of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau). They visited Switzerland, Tyrol, and Italy. For a time, they were joined in their travels by Danish author and salonist Friederike Brun. After Princess Louisa's death in 1811, he entered the service of the king of Württemberg, was ennobled, created counselor of legation, appointed intendant of the court theatre and chief librarian of the royal library at Stuttgart. He resided for a time in Italy. In 1828 he retired and settled at Wörlitz near Dessau, where he died on the 12th of March 1831.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.