Aug 24 2008
Botschaft
Schumman’s Spanisches Liederspiel cycle perhaps finds its most beautifully crafted expression in Emmanuel Geibel’s translation of ‘Cojo jazmín y clavel’ into Botschaft. Sung by the harmonious and delicate voices of Frederica Von Stade and Judith Blegen, one cannot but wonder how anyone could escape the sensuality of the piece. The Habanera-like melodic background works wonderfully in this soprano-mezzosoprano duet, where both Blegen and Von Stade seem to be able to dose the delivery of each line so that the text is enhanced in a sinuous scenery in which flowers and love are omnipresent.
Tausend Blumen, tauumflossen,
Find ich neu im Tal erwacht;
Alle sind erst heut entsprossen,
Aber hin ist ihre Pracht,
Wenn der nächste Morgen lacht.
Sprich, du duftiger Jasmin,
Sprecht, ihr flammenroten Nelken,
Sprecht: kann so schnell auch Liebe welken?
I wish flowers could speak about the duration of love. Sometimes humans cannot and they should not really have to. They should just let it happen. Will you, my valkyrie?
