Du bist die Ruh; Nacht und Träume; An die Musik

Several pictures are featured in the above-featured video. Their content is consistent with a period of history we have discussed: the Napoleonic Era. The presentation is rapid, but the music sets the appropriate mood and rythm. This is an exceptional performance of three well-known Lieder by Schubert.

Interpretations of Schubert’s Lieder bring to mind German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (28 May 1925 – 18 May 2012). However, the performance at the top of this post, by English tenor Ian Bostridge OBE (born 25 December 1964), accompanied by pianist Julius Drake (born 5 April 1959), compares favorably with Fischer-Dieskau’s legendary renderings of Schubert.

Austrian composer Franz Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828), is an unequalled melodist whose life was too brief. Like Théodore Géricault, Eugène Delacroix‘s friend, Schubert died at the early age of 32, but his legacy reflects a much longer life.

I hope you enjoy Bostridge’s interpretation of Schubert’s Lieder. It’s very touching. In fact, we are no longer walking on earth, but hearing the ineffable, or indicible. There are times when the spoken word does fall short of music.

Translation

Although knowing the words is not required, an English translation is available and it leads to translations to other languages. Just click on Du bist die Ruh. Copyrights do not allow me to insert the German text and its translation into this article.

Tags

Tags would be Ruh, Friede (peace), allein (alone), Lust and Schmerz (pleasure and pain), schließe and bei mir (close and next to me), Wohnung (dwelling), treiben (to drive), Brust and Herz (breast and heart), voll (full), füllen (to fill); ganz (entire).

Still Life with Garland of Flowers, by Jan Brueghel the Elder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jan Brueghel (Photo credit: Google images)