Hugo Wolf - Michelangelo Lieder Nr. 3 of 3

On September 20, 1897 Hugo Wolf was taken to Dr. Svetlins sanatorium in Vienna, and on February 22, 1903, he died there, insane, at the age of only 43. The last songs he wrote in March 1897, were the three Michelangelo Lieder. The settings of German translations by Robert-Tornow of the original poems of Michelangelo are for low voice. It goes without saying that the sculptor must sing bass, Wolf remarked. These are verses of retrospection, old age and resignation, with a streak of the pessimism of the ancients, contemplating the inevitable.

The last of the three songs, "Fühlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht", has the effect of a farewell and of a personal confession; its austere setting of words of love brightens from E minor to E major, and seems to look back to the feelings and sorrows of the "Peregrina" songs (Mörike). It was to remain Wolf's final completed composition.

Above from program notes by Karl Schumann



Fühlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht

Fühlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht
Von Gott, der sie erschuf? Ist es der Strahl
Von andrer Schönheit aus dem Jammertal,
Der in mein Herz Erinnrung weckend bricht?

Ist es ein Klang, ein Traumgesicht,
Das Aug und Herz mir füllt mit einem Mal
In unbegreiflich glüh'nder Qual,
Die mich zu Tränen bringt? Ich weiß es nicht.

Was ich ersehne, fühle, was mich lenkt,
Ist nicht in mir: sag mir, wie ich's erwerbe?
Mir zeigt es wohl nur eines Andren Huld;
Darein bin ich, seit ich dich sah, versenkt.
Mich treibt ein Ja und Nein, ein Süß und Herbe -
Daran sind, Herrin, deine Augen Schuld.

Original poem by Michelangelo
German version by Walter Heinrich Robert-Tornow (1852-1895)



Does my soul feel the longed for light
Of God, who created it? Is it the beam
of some other beauty from the vale of tears,
that memory has awakened in my heart?

Is it a sound, a dream vision,
That all at once fills my eyes and heart
With incredible glowing agony,
That brings me to tears? I do not know.

What I desire, feel, what guides me,
Is not within me: tell me, how do I attain it?
It appears to me as another form of grace;
Into which, since I first saw you, I am submerged.
I am driven by a yes and no, a sweetness and bitterness
For this, Lady, thine eyes are to blame.

English translation by FiDiTanzer528


Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• lieder
• Hugo
• Wolf
• Michelangelo
• Fischer-Dieskau
• Barenboim

[paul94708]

Thank you for this introduction to a Wolf I never caught before. He's certainly leaving with a message for us of a richer sphere of being -- the music barely floats on silence.

[FiDiTanzer528]

I'm happy to have introduced you to these wonderful songs. These were Wolf's last compositions.

[blackmetaldad]

It's fantastic seeing his lieder put to images...I have these three tracks on my Hugo Wolf Society boxset, but these versions sound richer....I'll have to get hold of these recordings. Thanks!

[FiDiTanzer528]

Thanks for commenting. If you like Wolf, check out my channel. I've been honoring him all this month and have created a playlist of the Wolf songs that I have uploaded. Endlessly fascinating!

[banginghats2]

I'm not normally drawn to miniatures generally and lieder in particular because of the language barrier, but I heard about a Wolf and wanted to listen to something by him. Your video/translation really helped make it accessible. I find this music very moving and this is an incredibly emotional performance. I can't stop playing it. Thanks for posting.

[FiDiTanzer528]

The reviews were fantastic so I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks again for the suggestion.

[podkivanok]

I am glad to hear this, because this recital is great. One of my favorite CD's of all times :)

[FiDiTanzer528]

That pleases me. It is my intention to make the music better known and understood. I know the language can be a barrier to full appreciation.

[FiDiTanzer528]

No, I've not heard the Hotter but thanks for the mention. I have now ordered a Hotter Wolf recital which contains these songs.

[imusiciki]

Thanks Karen, this is an exceptional lieder and your translations always help me understand the video better!