On 30 September 1772, Matthias, the first child of Matthias Claudius and his wife Anna Rebecka, was born; the baby died the same day. On 1 September of the following year, a poem by Claudius titled Bei dem Grabe Anselmos [At Anselmo’s Grave] appeared in the weekly paper «Der Deutsche, sonst Wandsbecker Bote» [The German, also called The Wandsbeck Messenger]; with this name, Anselmo, the poet was referring to his little son.
The poem, concise, tender, and restrained, was set to music in November 1816 by Franz Schubert—together with six other poems by Claudius—with the same tenderness and restraint. One only has to listen to the delicacy with which the child’s name is mentioned, or to the first line of the second part of the song, “Seht, wie liebten wir uns beide.” Fortunately for us, the composer did not adhere to the poet’s concision and repeated the first part of the poem, so that the song ends with the line “Das ist mein Schmerz!”
We will listen to this song, which I find really beautiful, performed by Janet Baker and Gerald Moore. It is not often heard in recitals, but we will have the good fortune to hear it at the opening concert of the Schubertíada, performed by Matilda Sterby and Matti Hirvonen; for this reason, I have also chosen it to begin this series of posts dedicated to the festival.
As always, I will go through all the recitals. After the song, you will find a summary of the first three, with links to the works from the programme that we have listened to here.
I hope we meet at the Schubertíada!
Dass ich dich verloren habe,
Dass du nicht mehr bist,
Ach, dass hier in diesem Grabe
Mein Anselmo ist,
Das ist mein Schmerz!
Seht, wie liebten wir uns beide,
Und so lang ich bin, kommt Freude
Niemals wieder in mein Herz.
The fact that I have lost you,
That you no longer exist,
Oh, the fact that here in this grave
Is my Anselmo,
That is my agony!
See how much we loved each other, the two of us,
And for as long as I exist joy will come
Never again into my heart.
(translation by Malcolm Wren)
Thursday 13 August: Marta Bauzà & Jesús López Blanco (Espai Misteri · Deu Aigua Vilajuïga)
This concert is dedicated to the composer Miquel Capllonch, whose music we have not yet heard here; the duo will introduce his life and work, placing it in context alongside that of other composers of his time. From the programme, we have heard only two songs so far:
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Warum willst du andre fragen by Clara Schumann
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Befreit by Richard Strauss
Friday 14 August: Mikhail Timoshenko & Elitsa Desseva (Església de sant Pere de Pals)
Sunday 16 d'agost: Matilda Sterby & Matti Hirvonen
The concert will open with a generous selection of Franz Schubert’s lieder; pick and choose to your liking. We have also heard, from the programme, one of Edvard Grieg’s songs and one by Gösta Nystroem.
