Jessye Norman sings Brahms - Gestillte Sehnsucht, from Two Songs, Op. 91 (1/2)

Zwei Gesänge, Op. 91
(for alto, piano and viola)

I. Gestillte Sehnsucht (Stilled Longing)

American dramatic soprano Jessye Norman performs two beautiful gems by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), accompanied by Daniel Barenboim (piano) and Wolfram Christ (viola). Brahms scored the settings of these two poems for voice, piano and viola. The first is by by Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866) and the second is from the "Spanisches Liederbuch" by Emanuel von Geibel (1815-1884). The viola obbligato in the "Geistliches Wiegenlied" is based on an old German cradle hymn called "Josef, lieber Josef mein."

Text:

In gold'nen Abendschein getauchet,
Wie feierlich die Wälder stehn!
In leise Stimmen der Vöglein hauchet
Des Abendwindes leises Weh'n.
Was lispeln die Winde, die Vögelein?
Sie lispeln die Welt in Schlummer ein.

Ihr Wünsche, die ihr stets euch reget
Im Herzen sonder Rast und Ruh!
Du Sehnen, das die Brust beweget,
Wann ruhest du, wann schlummerst du?
Beim Lispeln der Winde, der Vögelein,
Ihr sehnenden Wünsche, wann schlaft ihr ein?

Ach, wenn nicht mehr in gold'ne Fernen
Mein Geist auf Traumgefieder eilt,
Nicht mehr an ewig fernen Sternen
Mit sehnendem Blick mein Auge weilt;
Dann lispeln die Winde, die Vögelein
Mit meinem Sehnen mein Leben ein.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Johannes
• Brahms
• Two
• Songs
• Op.
• 91
• Op.91
• Zwei
• Gesänge
• gesange
• Lieder
• Jessye
• Norman
• Daniel
• Barenboim
• Wolfram
• Christ
• soprano
• alto
• voice
• singer
• piano
• viola
• Gestillte
• Sehnsucht
• Gestillte Sehnsucht
• johannes brahms
• brahms lied
• brahms lieder
• jessye norman
• daniel barenboim
• ruckert
• geibel
• german
• romantic
• chamber
• classical
• music

[marioguidoscappucci]

Praticamente perfetto!

[Wavewolfaroha]

@VivaRenata Sorry, didn't meant to imply that what you related was not so! I deeply appreciate the tribute paid by Norman to Flagstad.

[VivaRenata]

@Wavewolfaroha Not a story, really true. I have heard Jessye Norman on some videos talking about Flagstad, and she is someone who really understands her predecessors and her own performances reflect this. Please listen to Flagstad's own Gestillte Sehnsucht Op 91 nr. 1, which I have posted. Best!

[Wavewolfaroha]

Lovely interpretation, beautifully executed by all three performers! Thank you for sharing. Thank you for providing text.

[Wavewolfaroha]

@VivaRenata Sweet story!

[Wavewolfaroha]

Lovely interpretation, beautifully executed by all three performers! Thank you for sharing.

[VivaRenata]

Beautiful and tasteful rendition, even if Norman is not as much of an "alto" as Flagstad was. I respect Norman greatly for her appreciation of her great predecessor in the dramatic Wagnerian repertoire. Norman planted a beautiful tree 1995 outside the small house in Hamar where Flagstad was born a century before. It was pretty small when I finally made it there 2002, but it is a wonderful tribute that is still growing.

[lasobrinadeHerman]

Thanks!