Elisabeth Schwarzkopf sings Schubert: "Heidenroeslein (Hedgerose)"

Lyrics and translation
"Heidenroeslein (Hedgerose)", a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Sah ein Knab ein Roeslein stehn
Roeslein auf der Heiden,
war so jung und morgenschoen,
lief er schnell, es nah zu sehn,
sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Roeslein, Roeslein, Roeslein rot,
Roeslein auf der Heiden.

A boy saw a rose growing,
a rose on the hedge.
It was so young and fair that morning
he quickly ran to look at it closely.
He looked at it with much joy.
Rose, rose, red rose,
rose on the hedge.

Knabe sprach: Ich breche dich,
Roeslein auf der Heiden!
Roeslein sprach: Ich steche dich,
dass du ewig denkst an mich,
und ich will's nicht leiden.
Roeslein, Roeslein, Roeslien rot,
Roeslein auf der Heiden.

The boy said: I'll pick you,
rose on the hedge!
The rose said: I'll prick you,
so that you always think of me,
for I won't suffer it.
Rose, rose, red rose,
rose on the hedge.

Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Roeslein auf der Heiden;
Roeslein wehrte sich und stach,
half ihm doch kein Weh und Ach,
musst es eben leiden.
Roeslein, Roeslein, Roeslein rot,
Roeslein auf der Heiden.

And the savage boy picked
the rose on the hedge;
the rose defended itself and pricked,
but the aches and pains did not help,
it had to suffer, just the same.
Rose, rose, red rose,
rose on the hedge.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• elisabeth
• schwarzkoph
• schubert
• lied
• heidenroeslein

[knick1776]

Umm--this is about Schwartzkopf, not about Schubert or Goethe. Both the poem and the music have a divine simplicity, the simplicity of a folksong or folk tale. Schwartzkopf seems rather to be saying "Look how beautiful my voice is. This little song is worthy of my divine singing." Well, her voice is indeed beautiful. But for me, the interpretation swamps the music. I'd rather hear Schubert's message than Schwartzkopf's.

[themfromspace]

I'm sure Schubert would have wanted performers to put their all into his music and I think that he'd be disappointed if they did any less, especially if it was in deference to his supposed authority on the work.

[glykera]

The piece is actually not very jolly at all...

[1401JSC]

@marijke0607

Fortunately Goethe was writing before Freud invented the diseases that he pretended to cure.

We are perfectly free to interpret the text if we wish, and if it magnifies the poetry and the music for our listeners.

[danzwoot]

@SingingShooter defloration, yes.

[SuperZeroo]

@knick1776 I think this is a very good interpretation. Her voice is beautiful, she cannot help it. And I think she is not showing off virtuosity but rather serving the music with her exceptional capabilities. This is subtle, simple virtuosism. It fits the song really well.

[LandingMach3]

@marijke0607  you do not simply interpret goethe as face value.......

[dillpar]

Knick1776's criticism re: Schwartzkopf was exactly Goethe's criticism of Schubert's settings.

[1401JSC]

@543johnson

No tempo is indicated.

Con tenerezza is all that the score says.

[Serendip123]

@marijke0607 Oh yes. I see now that it is Gerald Moore. He was one of the best accompanists.

[Serendip123]

@marijke0607 Sorry if my comments upset you. This song is a little gem, and beautifully sung by Elisabeth - it's one of my facourites. I wonder whether it's Gerald Moore accompanying?

[marijke0607]

@Serendip123 It is not my way of enjoying a song for the morals, I enjoy it for the music.

As I said, sometimes a prick is just a prick, I could not care less, otherwise.

Keep away from from unfounded explanations and just enjoy the art.

[Serendip123]

@marijke0607 There's a theory that the prick of the rose thorn in this song symbolises syphilis, of which Goethe had a great fear. And poor Schubert himself contracted syphilis. Perhaps he should have taken notice of the moral of his own song!