G. Mahler, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Die zwei blauen Augen.., A. Holroyd, A. du Closel

Gustav Mahler, 1860-1911, composed his song cycle ´Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen`, comprising four poems written by himself, in 1883-85 after the end of his unsuccefull love affair with singer Johanna Richter. In this video I suggest the fourth song, ´the two blue eyes of my beloved` in the version for mezzo soprano and flute-clarinet-harmonium-piano-percusions-string quintet, proposed in 1920 by Arnold Schoenberg for his ´association for private musical hearings`.

In the fourth song the hero, feeling betrayed by his beloved, is driven into the hostile, inhospitable world. As a wanderer, he finds peace and comfort in nature. He falls asleep under a linden tree which covers him with its blossoms, an eloquent metaphore of death. A very cruel and painful work of the end of the 19th century dealing with the loss of love.

The end of the 19th century in Europe was a transition period that still fascinates me. Volcanic changes all over the continent: The old, ´daddy-cares`regimes cracked down, imperiums declined, wars were bursting hungry for victims, God was not feeling well, new ways of production needed slaves or created marginal wayfarers and immigrants. The art protagonists, caught in this turmoil, had only one refuge, one haven which reconciled them with the exploding reality and soothed their pain. Love. When love was dying the heros were dying with it, unable to cope with the hostile reality or their merciless self. Haven´t we all felt that?

At least this is what it is registered in music by E.Chausson in France, G. Mahler in Austria, G. Martucci in Italy and later M. Ravel back in France giving a more contained answer.

Conductor Amaury Du Closel leads the expressive mezzo soprano Anna Holroyd and his Camerata de Versailles into a touching rendition of the score. They were young, talented, inspired. This recording, Auvidis Valois 1986, remains to prove it.

Fotos taken by me at dusk in the Monastiraki area of Athens, Greece, and in Vienna, Austria.

Enjoy.

Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz,
Die haben mich in die weite Welt geschickt.
Da mußt ich Abschied nehmen vom allerliebsten Platz!
O Augen blau, warum habt ihr mich angeblickt?
Nun hab' ich ewig Leid und Grämen!
Ich bin ausgegangen in stiller Nacht
wohl über die dunkle Heide.
Hat mir niemand Ade gesagt Ade!:
Mein Gesell' war Lieb und Leide!
Auf der Straße stand ein Lindenbaum,
Da hab' ich zum ersten Mal im Schlaf geruht!
Unter dem Lindenbaum, Der hat seine Blüten
über mich geschneit, Da wußt' ich nicht, wie das Leben tut,
War alles, alles wieder gut! Alles! Alles, Lieb und Leid
Und Welt und Traum!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gustav
• Mahler
• Lieder
• eines
• fahrenden
• Gesellen
• Chants
• un
• compagnon
• errant
• songs
• of
• wayfarer
• die
• zwei
• blauen
• augen
• von
• meinem
• schatz
• arr.
• Arnold
• Schoenberg
• Anna
• Holroyd
• mezzosoprano
• Amaury
• du
• Closel
• conductor
• camerata
• de
• versailles

[jurek46pink]

The nightly (sinful ?...) trace of Aphrodite.

Alluring sometimes.

[pslogge]

sinful? I would agree with Anatole France that the only sin people commit in love is when they act against it.

[pslogge]

dear friend, two minutes ago I was at your channel looking for your news. Thank you for your comment. Yes. this video is the product of hard work.

[denlibdut]

Your video is in perfect balance with the music. The silent traveler walks distraught over the streets he knew so well when he was loved. He now sees no one, speaks to no one. The only comfort left to him is the peace that comes with sleep and he surrenders himself to the soothing caress of the deepening night. Well done! Beautiful indeed!

[zeca14zeca]

as flores no esgoto representam muito bem a perda do amor... muito, muito bom. e bastante deprimente também. resumindo: está perfeito.

[jurek46pink]

I am coming back to it; to see my own experiences along side streets of Sevilla and Granada, after midnight. -

These night walks have a special air;

it is perfectly called out in the present work. Yes, the only company may be your

memories (or...desires).

[RIRRATTO]

superbe et légèrement déprimant, juste comme la musique de Mahler.......

[jurek46pink]

France's sentence is also mine.

Sinful - as it appears in "Love For Sale".

"Sinful traces, paths..." - it is not negative for me; if the need and commitment

is only true, natural.

[sbd650]

Amazing!

[Backatwon]

I am not a particular fan of this type of music but with the pictures and music beautifully presented I am enchanted and appreciate the beauty ....I also enjoy the background story of these works !....thank you for your hard work in providing us with this posting!.........with respect!