Schubert: Gretchen am spinnrade", op.2, D.118 - Te Kanawa

[SpruhaVaishnav]

haunting and so, so beautiful.

[arnoldhau1]

A great version of a great song. I loved this interpretation since I found it on one of my Schubert-Song-Collecion CDs some years ago. It really carries the emotion of desperate Gretchen.

[Raichu234]

So beautiful :) Am singing it next year for my final dissertation for my music degree

[MaxBeljaeff]

I get the chills when I listen to this.

[locurainside]

A 0:04 B 0:27 C 0:43 A 0:57 D 1:17 E 1:35 F 1:43 Puente 2:12 A 2:21 G 2:38 H 2:55 I 3:10 Coda 3:29 Fuente: Wikipedia

[1kkrosey1]

Hi ava

[jetaimearln]

My God this is Wonderful!

[MsDankitup]

Herr Duffet!!!

[Nemanja625]

Who dislike this?? Oh my GOD :P

[luciachataignier]

Lindíssimo, comovente! Amei!!!

[PTR131]

This should be the official soundtrack to any and every movie based on Goethe's play.

[wawa314159]

I mean 'two' a" s at the end

[wawa314159]

I think a" instead of g" gives a better melody at the climax at 2:04 (Kuss/kiss). d" to g" is rare; but d" to a" gives a satisfying half cadence. Maybe Schubert thought a" was too high at first; but he eventually added to a" s at the end. (3:20 and 3:27)

[titusbeertsen]

@wawa314159 I think Schubert did that on purpose, because the g'' just hangs in there, which gives a kind of pseudo-climax, and the 'true' climax comes at the end with the higher a''.

[25mueso]

This piece haunts me. The momentum is so spellbinding, suddenly you find yourself at the end of the piece, hoe does Schubert do that?!

[chickflickaddict91]

i studied this 2day in my music class in colllege and i just love the right hand of the piano in this peice!

[irishrocker182183]

@chickflickaddict91

Music and text in Maynooth for the win!!! :-)

[monsieurw1]

I love the purity of Te Kanawa's voice, and there is a lovely, tempered poignancy in this interpretation -- but Gretchen is supposed to seem a little bit desperate. To me, Meta Seinemeyer captures it better.

[TheAkumar47]

wow how boring this is

[CrazyAnimeFreak11]

the lyrics have really nothing to do with mortal fear or anything like that. You should read Goethe's Faust, then you'll know what it is all about. :)

[julohmom]

Thank you for posting this!

[Dr4ke1337]

Anyone know a version with a flute and other *unknown* string instrument?! I was listening to Classical FM, and there was this perfect music! It was this, but with some type of wind and string instrument!Q.Q!~!!!!

If anyone knows, for the love of god message me! Was perfect, picture myself exploring an enchanted forest, but cannot find this version OMGAH!~

[abrow4]

One of my favorite performances of this lied and of Kiri Te Kanawa

[Matiskc]

IMHO The best version of "Gretchen..." on Youtube

[erroll9621]

Best interpretation I've ever heard.

[classicalgal14]

so dramatic love it :)

[ChadBMichaels]

Well, what makes Schubert so tough is that many times, the piano acts as it's own entity. Most composers just have the piano back the singer,but the piano generally is a character in these types of songs by Schubert. Like, in this song, the piano plays as the spinning wheel. In Erlkonig, the piano is the horse.

[NCIShottie]

Could somebody please send the sheet music for this exquisite piece of music? I'd love to learn how to play this on piano.

[Nemirovskaya]

@NCIShottie HAHA! Usually piano players are running away from this song.

[DarthYoungling]

@Nemirovskaya Really? it seems rather basic to play. But I guess adding the singer it can get complicated.

[Nemirovskaya]

@DarthYoungling The motives are basic but to keep that line fliud is a challenge....try it some time without having any notes jumping out and scaring yeah!!

[wonphi]

@DarthYoungling The original Schubert version is only for accompanying the voice only. So yes, it is easy, the one pianists run away from is the Piano version transcribed by Franz Liszt for the Piano only, which adds the melody into the piano part as well as adding much added flair voice by the notes. Check out my channel for Yuja Wang playing that particular version.

[ponifan23]

im only listening to this for a project. it sux

[666demonivo]

Awesome!!!!!!!

brilliant

[Denuhm]

its amazing...the song is well performed, the emotion is linked to the words well, the voice subtly alters to the emotional weight of the word... and sings with apparent ease.

[gOtHiCxAnGeLxox]

Schubert is by far one of the most talented men in history. And the music he wrote to accompany Der Erlkönig, my God, just marvelous. This piece is no different. Brilliant, relaxing and so pleasing to the ear. And the woman's voice...perfection. ^^

[jgdmol4l]

I agree with everything you stated, except that I wouldnt say this piece is relaxing, especially if you understand the lyrics..the girl is kind of desperate lol....there is this underlying anxiety in the piece that builds with the vocal line...its really great...and Kiri's voice very well suited for this piece :)

[courthousedoc]

Opus 1 -- Erlkonig

Opus 2 - Gretchen am Spinrade.

I think the only reason Schubert continued was to make amends to all the accompanists he stressed. Because otherwise, there was no reason to continue -- you can't beat perfection. We're glad he did, but ....

The first 2 opuses are 2 of the greatest (if not the greatest) lied ever written.

Not my very favorite version but still quite good.

[GALLSTONER]

@gOtHiCxAnGeLxox Relaxing? Have you never experienced mortal fear?

[gOtHiCxAnGeLxox]

@GALLSTONER No. For I am without fear. -I am Ripper...Tearer...Slasher...Go­uger. I am the Teeth in the Darkness, the Talons in the Night. Mine is Strength...and Lust...and Power! I. AM. BEOWULF! lol! Sorry, I had to add that in! ^_^'

[GALLSTONER]

@gOtHiCxAnGeLxox Gee. You're lucky then. ;-)

[McTomson]

@gOtHiCxAnGeLxox

don't forget JWG

[princenosiatajansen]

its in 3/4 ??

[JohnJiren]

No, it's in 6/8.

[nicosupersex]

1 2 3

4 5 6

[Azzenstudent]

Beautiful voice, lousy interpretation. There's a reason Dame Kiri never really developed as a lieder singer and it's on display here. There are songs that demand expressivity even at the cost of tonal beauty and this is one of them.

[nicosupersex]

you're deaf

[sesshyssoulmate]

I agree.

[princenosiatajansen]

schubert was really......crazy. :D sooo hard what he Did in his life...and he died soooo pooorly....

sad musicians...

[MarilusDream]

Maybe we'll play faust with our drama group this year and I hope I'll be allowed to sing this...it's so beautiful

[musikenergy]

Schubert is one of my all time favorite composers. I can't believe he only live to be in his 30s and composed such stirring pieces...most of the time composing them in sickness.

[animalandhater]

wonderful!

[deadcalledpark]

it's really sad, that no director uses this wonderful song in the proper situation; goethe's faust

[xp145]

Seeing that Goethe didn't like Schubert, there might be a reason for keeping it out of its real context.

[McTomson]

try to find an actress wants to sing that piece like she does...

[W1ldKardde]

great job

[zapponi10]

shut up!! It's wonderful

calla!! Es maravilloso

[olmomdgdmtal5p]

con poca expresividd y muy lento aunque buena voz.

[PepperPoppers]

Great video....im learning this piece now and this really helped.

[sperner]

so smooth... so nervous

[slowblooze]

this is probably my favorite piece written as a lied

[susiinberlin]

thank you so much for uploading your videos.... they are GREAT

[sutrobellbell16]

OMG...im singing this as a solo for contests in my school...i hope im good!!!

[reddupo]

schubert you bastard

[schmetterlink]

totally. what else can you say?

[ChrisSunHwa]

Oh, I really love this interpretation!

[saxamaphoneguy1]

I love how Kiri can so effortlessly just soar up to those high notes, and also provide power when it's needed. She has such control and such a passion, her singing is so touching and moving.

[Angaenor]

truly beautiful..

it's chaotic, or desperate, in a certain way

[nuriko1128]

i like this song.

[xxraj43xx]

this is helping me with my music homework =]

[swanningaround]

How does she do this? Only Elisabeth Schwarzkopf can (possibly) better this. Leontyne is up there too (as usual). Love them all!

[reecie25]

I heart Dame Kiri Te Kanawa!

I heart this song!

Thank you for posting this!

[timaenot]

Listen to Meta Seinemeyer's version here on youtube... fabulous. The best, IMHO.

Thank you for posting this with notes.

[1citycouncil]

Seinemeyer's is indeed fantastic!!

[Fleur192]

I agree. Seinemeyer's version is the best.

[swanningaround]

Yes. It shows how good they were in the 1920s. It was a different style then. Frances Alda was also from that period. Similar style. Meta's version is fantastic, as is Kiri's.

[LazlosPlane]

Thanks for posting this. Forgot just how powerful great text and music can be.

[tangyx127]

good job

[aisling1234]

Thank you very much for posting this, it helped me alot with my pronunciation! :)

[lucamadeus]

so wonderful...a masterpiece

[hiflynblues]

OMG!!!!! This is my favorite song to sing. Thank you so much for posting this!!!

[liaojunder]

Amethyst888,

you are right.

[Amethyst888]

liaojunder, I told you so :-)

[volodya75]

My favorite version.

[stevek277]

Great voice! Kiri Te Kanawa is the BEST! I love Schubert & Göethe!

P. S. Thanks for translating!

[ferdinandoalbeg]

thank you, thank you ! for the music and the score!

[musicyh]

I love the "Kuss" at 2:05. Never heard anything so desperate before. It just pulls at your heart.

[mozartslover]

one of the greatest Lied, sang by one of the greatest singers. she is truly exceptional

[klmnumbers]

One of the greatest lied of all time; This is a fine recording as well. Ty for the upload.

[NadiaDenisse]

Beautiful!! I love Schubert!!!

Do you have the sheet music?? I want to sing it!!

[hillevifan]

could you post her 'die forelle' please?

[musicyh]

Exquisite...period.

[musicdivinemusic]

Wonderful! The voice, the despair, the expression she gives to each word, like the cry "Ah! Sein Kuss" (his kiss) at 2:10. Thanks so much to civileso for posting also the score, lyrics, translation & the wiki article. This way I can enjoy this piece much more.

[lumpishogre]

I love it. I love it. I love it. Goethe and Schubert, what a combo. I cant say enough.

[ronnn15]

couldnt agree more =]

[Amatherasu1789]

GREAT!

Sure a hard work!

[aniaen]

class. higher class!!!with "not to much" and softly...great:) brawa!

[mcgiver02]

thanks for setting the music against the vocal. must be a lot of work, an invaluable service to admirers ( and students ) of Schubert.

[swanningaround]

The two As at 3.20 and 3.26 are just wonderful.

[lamsauping]

I LOVE IT

[may8759]

Ich habe die Fledermaus und ihr deutsch war ganz gut...

[lovesGenet]

god .this song does it.Frightened but it develops this with some Schumann songs are just past living . So happy  to see the chord sequences !!!

[swanningaround]

I love this version, and thought it couldn't be bettered. Then I found Leontyne's version. I think it could be even better. What do you all think?

[mcgiver02]

i like both

[DerWandrer]

Ihr Deutsch ist nicht so gut, ich glaube...

[swanningaround]

Poor Kiri can win. Now you are picking on her German. It's not that bad! Can you do better?

[DerWandrer]

Haha I hope so, I teach German diction.

Her vocalism is absolutely gorgeous though, but as her specialty is Italian, her German comes across as a bit Italianate.

Beautiful interpretation though!

Truce!

[mcgiver02]

so she speaks Italian, German, her native English and probably--amlost certainly--

French as well.

What next ? Japanese ?

[musicyh]

I totally agree. It's like whatever language she sings in, it feels so comfortable for her. You've left out Maori...she probably speaks that as well.

[SMMHELDENTENOR]

sorry folks, she only speaks english! but sings in most of the Opera and Art song languages: as for Maori, sadly KTK was raised in the era when the generation previous to hers was forbidden to speak their native tongue by the N ew Zealand colonial rulers: consequently the KTK generation lost the language for the most part...fortunately it has seen a renaissance in the last 20/30 years.

[musicyh]

Thanks for the info. But actually, I thought she'd understand the languages she sings in, after so many years. I think she understands some Maori too, from her bio on DVD. She couldn't have been learning everything purely phonetically right? I mean, I would go nuts from stress if I were to learn every song like that.

[SMMHELDENTENOR]

yes probably speaks some; it would rub off:-)

[swanningaround]

DerWandrer. I should have said "can't win". My English could improve too. Thanks for your comments.

[paminaase]

Natürlich!

Sie ist nicht Deutsche und die deutsche Aussprache ist schwer!

[tepeto4711]

hallo, ihr tauben,

das f ist unüberhörbar,

liebe und danke

thomas,

[nogood4242]

Are you all DEAF?

Listen to the most important note in the whole piece, the f natural on "ach" at 02:01.

Well she sings f sharp! This cant be an error - or is it? Is it a deeply meaningful disonance? To signify the break in the spinning wheel motion, in her thoughts or just the most exposed error I have ever heard from a first rank professional singer?

I cant decide, I see f natural on the page, I hear f sharp and get upset. Perhaps thats the point, join margaret in her sorrow.

[nogood4242]

Despite my comment above, I think this is an beautiful performance-Dame Kiri at her divine best.

Thanks civileso for this and for all the beautiful vocal music you have been posting.

This is an incredible song, all the more remarkable coming from a teenager who from day one reached the pinnacle of music making. Goethe probably never heard it, although he had the chance, and it was his loss.

Lets keep in mind, however great the singer, its Shubert thats should always astound us.

[annadbanana89]

thankyou! im doing this song at the moment and i was listening to the ach and i knew it didnt sound right! :O

[CzechViolist]

No, not deaf. The note is not more sharp than anything that is accepted. She's singing the right note. Be nice.

[nogood4242]

ok, i agree its more sharp than wrong, still I was taken aback. You are right we should be "nice" to any performer, especially when in every way this is a gorgeous interpretation. I was consumed with guilt right after I posted the original comment, which is why I followed up with the next one.

[ANTICHITASCIPPA]

UN BEL VIDEO, SALUTI DA NAPOLI!

[alissaelectric91]

this was so helpful in learning the song! thank you :)

[baakal01]

I completely agree!

[Rotundweiss]

Una canción bellísima.Muy emocionante. Y en alemán, para mí, la lengua mas bella del mundo. Wunderbar.

[colmivers]

maybe im being picky but her interpretation lacks the fury and anxiety present in Ruth Ziesak's version

[lizclegg]

She has the prettiest voice in the world, but I do always find all of her performances a bit, well, vanilla.

[colmivers]

yeah exactly, gorgeous voice but lets have some ugliness :P

[islezeus]

Maybe she using some perspective - maybe that's how she fantasizes or has sex.

[CptJackSparrowLove]

Okay, good, I'm not the only person who thinks that. I mean it kind of sounds like somethings...off when you compare it to the piano. It is too pretty. But, my choir teacher always says that the sopranos need to sound uglier, so in her defence I know very well that it's hard to make an ugly sound for some sopranos.

[BENNIEBONGO]

Nice work Civileso what you did with the score, also the moment where the spinningwheel stops when she remembers his kiss...and the thread breaks.....and then the movement starts again.

[blairinnyc]

I'm going to work on getting Jessye Norman's rendition of this song up. I think you will all enjoy it tremendously...

[justwatchingyours]

I love her voice.

[Jasonclay]

I know the angst she sings of, I once listened to this song with a distant love.

My hands went numb, and stomach tied in knots.

Gretchen's fantasy was ours.

[brianmdusa]

I love Te Kanawa, she is my favorite soprano.I have several of her CDs. Thanks for sharing this.

[BravaBerganza01]

I love this song. Kiri´s interpretation "Gretchen am Spinnrade" is very nice, but the MOST BEAUTIFUL is interpretation of Lucia Popp. Believe me! :)

[civileso]

Lucia has a lovely voice.. But unfortunately I do not have her version of this song. If I can find it I may post it in the future..

[BravaBerganza01]

I try to put here Lucia´s version! :) ...then I will send you.

[civileso]

Thank you..

[abracadaverous]

I adore this song, and the singer is wonderful. Gretchen is so hard to do right.

And thanks for setting it tp the sheet music. It's great to read-along!

[Orcr1st]

this piece gives me chills WHENEVER i hear it, it is one of the first pieces of classical music that i have thoroughly thought about and will always stay in my memory.

amazing.

[civileso]

Schubert's music seems to have that effect. Very intense isn't it? The other piece of music that gives me the similar kind of feeling is Tchaikovsky's Pathetique..

[AlanDNZ]

It is soul-touching stuff? It invites our searching of the 'depths' denied our every-day lives? It awakens our spirit to certain properties of our identity we hide from self and others mainly for fear of ridicule.....? Ameling (if this is her?) has the intonation that invokes 'hidden' beauties? Thank you for this very 'enjoyable' item.

[AlanDNZ]

Oops - just listened again - this is Kiri? She can do 'similar' on occasions:-)

[civileso]

That's true.. And I agree with your comment above.. It is just one of those pieces that goes way beyond mere notes and words. Gotta love Schubert..

[AlanDNZ]

Have you heard/listened to Elly Ameling? IMO she is much better in this vocal genera.

[civileso]

Yes, I listened to some of her recordings before though not a lot. But heard enough to say that Te Kanawa does sound very similar to Ameling. I would like to hear her version of Gretchen (if there is one) or any other Schubert piece now that you reminded me of her.. I remember her Ave Maria, which was one of the best among hundreds of recordings by other singers.. I will be looking for some material by her.. And if I find any , I sure will post them.

[civileso]

I think I had her version of Der Hirt Auf dem Felsen, which is one of the Schubert pieces makes me want to be a soprano:) I'll check and see If I can find it in my backup files now..

[civileso]

I just uploaded Schubert's Der Hirt auf dem Felsen sung by Ameling. In 2 parts.. I hope you'll enjoy it..

[LaBelleHelene]

I looooooveeeeeeee it!!

Thanks!! =)

[MarkBellinghaus]

Wundervoll--absolute wundervoll!

5*****