Lotte Lehmann Foundation

Die Mainacht

Die Mainacht

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Brahms wrote "The May Night" in 1866 as Op.43, No. 2 to the poetry of Ludwig Hölty (1748-1776). Lehmann recorded this several times, but the finest is this one recorded for Columbia in 1941 with Paul Ulanowsky, the pianist.

Wann der silberne Mond durch die Gesträuche blinkt, When the silvery moon beams through the shrubs
Und sein schlummerndes Licht über den Rasen streut, And over the lawn strews its slumbering light,
Und die Nachtigall flötet, And the nightingale sings,
Wandl' ich traurig von Busch zu Busch. Sadly, I wander from bush to bush
Überhüllet von Laub girret ein Taubenpaar Hidden by foliage, a pair of doves
Sein Entzücken mir vor; aber ich wende mich, Coo their delight to me; but I turn away
Suche dunklere Schatten, Seeking darker shadows,
Und die einsame Träne rinnt. And a lonely tear flows.
Wann, o lächelndes Bild, welches wie Morgenrot When, o smiling image that like dawn
Durch die Seele mir strahlt, find ich auf Erden dich? Shines through my soul, shall I find you on earth?
Und die einsame Träne And the lonely tear
Bebt mir heißer die Wang herab! Trembles burning, down my cheek.

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