Rückert songs
Ian Bostridge CBE tenor
Julius Drake piano
Change of artist and programme: we are so sorry that Jamie Barton has been unwell during her current trip to London and has regretfully withdrawn from this concert. We look forward to welcoming Jamie to the Temple another time in the future. We are incredibly grateful to Ian Bostridge for stepping in.
The poems of Friedrich Rückert have inspired some of the greatest songs ever written. Robert Schumann turned to Rückert's poetry for his rapturous love song Widmung, which opens this evening's recital. And the single line "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" (I am lost to the world...) moved Gustav Mahler to write the exquisite song with which the concert ends.
Considered possibly Europe’s greatest linguistic genius of the 19th century, Rückert spoke or studied more than 40 languages, and translated hundreds of texts from Arabic and Persian to German. Franz Schubert was the first to set one of his poems to music in 1823—his Sei mir gegrüsst has been followed by countless other compositions right up to the present day.
To perform this beautifully-curated selection of Rückert songs, pianist Julius Drake is joined by tenor Ian Bostridge.
Robert Schumann
Widmung Op. 25/1
Schneeglöckchen Op. 79/26
Aus den östlichen Rosen Op. 25/25
Robert Schumann / Clara Schumann
songs from De Gedichte aus ‘Liebesfrühling’ Op. 37-
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint (RS)
Er ist gekommen in Sturm und Regen (CS)
O ihr Herren (RS)
Liebst du um Schönheit (CS)
Ich hab’ in mich gesogen (RS)
Flügel! Flügel! um zu fliegen (CS)
Rose, Meer und Sonne (RS)
O Sonn’, o Meer, o Rose! (RS)
Warum willst du andre fragen? (CS)
Franz Schubert
Die Wallfahrt, D 778a
Greisengesang, D 778
INTERVAL
Lachen und Weinen D 777
Dass sie hier gewesen D 775
Du bist die Ruh D 776
Sei mir gegrüsst! D 741
Hans Werner Henze
Das Paradies
Gustav Mahler
Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft!
Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder
Liebst du um Schönheit
Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen
Duration: approximately 90 minutes (including interval)
This concert is generously sponsored by the Morris-Venables Charitable Foundation.
