Wednesday 16 September 1.00pm Dame Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano Malcolm Martineau piano

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)

Banalités (1940) (Guillaume Apollinaire)

Chanson d’Orkenise Song of Orkenise

Par les portes d’Orkenise Through the gates of Orkenise Veut entrer un charretier. a waggoner wants to enter. Par les portes d’Orkenise Through the gates of Orkenise Veut sortir un va-nu-pieds. a vagabond wants to leave.

Et les gardes de la ville And the sentries guarding the town Courant sus au va-nu-pieds: rush up to the vagabond: ‘ – Qu’emportes-tu de la ville?’ ‘What are you taking from the town?’ ‘ – J’y laisse mon cœur entier.’ ‘I’m leaving my whole heart behind.’

Et les gardes de la ville And the sentries guarding the town Courant sus au charretier: rush up to the waggoner: ‘ – Qu’apportes-tu dans la ville?’ ‘What are you carrying into the town?’ ‘ – Mon cœur pour me marier.’ ‘My heart in order to marry.’

Que de cœurs dans Orkenise! So many hearts in Orkenise! Les gardes riaient, riaient, The sentries laughed and laughed: Va-nu-pieds la route est grise, vagabond, the road’s not merry, L’amour grise, ô charretier. love makes you merry, O waggoner!

Les beaux gardes de la ville, The handsome sentries guarding the town Tricotaient superbement; knitted vaingloriously; Puis, les portes de la ville, the gates of the town then Se fermèrent lentement. slowly closed.

Hôtel Hotel

Ma chambre a la forme d’une cage My room is shaped like a cage Le soleil passe son bras par la fenêtre the sun slips its arm through the window Mais moi qui veux fumer pour faire des mirages but I who want to smoke to make mirages J’allume au feu du jour ma cigarette I light my cigarette on daylight’s fire Je ne veux pas travailler je veux fumer I do not want to work I want to smoke

Fagnes de Wallonie Walloon moss-hags

Tant de tristesses plénières So much utter sadness Prirent mon cœur aux fagnes seized my heart in the desolate upland désolées moss-hags Quand las j’ai reposé dans les sapinières when weary I set down in the fir plantation Le poids des kilomètres pendant que râlait the weight of kilometres to the roar Le vent d’ouest of the west wind J’avais quitté le joli bois I had left the pretty wood Les écureuils y sont restés the squirrels stayed there Ma pipe essayait de faire des nuages au ciel my pipe tried to make clouds in the sky Qui restait pur obstinément which stubbornly stayed clear

Je n’ai confié aucun secret sinon I confided no secret but une chanson énigmatique an enigmatic song Aux tourbières humides to the dank peat-bogs

Les bruyères fleurant le miel The honey-fragrant heather Attiraient les abeilles attracted the bees Et mes pieds endoloris and my sore feet Foulaient les myrtilles et les airelles crushed bilberries and whortleberries Tendrement mariée tenderly united Nord north Nord north La vie s’y tord life is gnarled there En arbres forts in strong trees Et tors and twisted La vie y mord life there bites La mort death À belles dents voraciously Quand bruit le vent when the wind howls

Voyage à Paris Trip to Paris

Ah! la charmante chose Oh! how delightful Quitter un pays morose to leave a dismal place Pour Paris for Paris Paris joli charming Paris Qu’un jour that one day Dut créer l’Amour love must have made Ah! la charmante chose oh! how delightful Quitter un pays morose to leave a dismal place Pour Paris for Paris

Sanglots Sobs

Notre amour est réglé par les calmes étoiles les Our love is governed by the calm stars Or nous savons qu’en nous beaucoup now we know that in us many men have their d’hommes respirent being Qui vinrent de très loin et sont un sous nos who came from afar and are one beneath our fronts brows C’est la chanson des rêveurs it is the song of the dreamers Qui s’étaient arraché le cœur who tore out their hearts Et le portaient dans la main droite and carried them in their right hands Souviens-t’en cher orgueil de tous ces souvenirs remember dear pride all these memories

Des marins qui chantaient comme des The sailors who sang like conquérants conquerors Des gouffres de Thulé des tendres cieux d’Ophir the chasms of Thule the gentle Ophir skies Des malades maudits de ceux qui fuient leur the accursed sick those who flee their ombre shadows Et du retour joyeux des heureux émigrants and the joyous return of happy emigrants De ce cœur il coulait du sang this heart ran with blood Et le rêveur allait pensant and the dreamer kept thinking A sa blessure délicate of his delicate wound Tu ne briseras pas la chaîne de ces causes you shall not break the chain of these causes Et douloureuse et nous disait of his painful wound and said to us Qui sont les effets d’autres causes which are the effects of other causes Mon pauvre cœur mon cœur brisé my poor heart my broken heart Pareil au cœur de tous les hommes like the hearts of all men Voici voici nos mains que la vie fit esclaves here here are our hands that life enslaved Est mort d’amour ou c’est tout comme has died of love or so it seems Est mort d’amour et le voici ... has died of love and here it is ... Ainsi vont toutes choses such is the fate of all things Arrachez donc le vôtre aussi so tear out yours too Et rien ne sera libre jusqu’à la fin des temps nothing will be free till the end of time Laissons tout aux morts let us leave all to the dead Et cachons nos sanglots and conceal our sobs

Translation by Richard Stokes from A French Song Companion (Johnson/Stokes) published by OUP. Please note that these translations may only be reproduced with the express permission of the translator.

Albert Roussel (1869-1937)

Le jardin mouillé Op. 3 No. 3 (1903) The drenched garden (Henri de Régnier)

La croisée est ouverte; il pleut The casement is open; the rain falls Comme minutieusement, minutely, as it were, A petit bruit et peu à peu, noiselessly and gradually Sur le jardin frais et dormant, on the fresh and sleeping garden.

Feuille à feuille, la pluie éveille Leaf by leaf the rain awakens L’arbre poudreux qu’elle verdit; the dusty tree it is turning green, Au mur, on dirait que la treille the climbing vine against the wall S’étire d’un geste engourdi. seems to stretch lethargically.

L’herbe frémit, le gravier tiède The grass trembles, the warm gravel Crépite et l’on croirait là-bas crunches, as though over there Entendre sur le sable et l’herbe you could hear on sand and grass Comme d’imperceptibles pas. the sound of indistinguishable steps.

Le jardin chuchote et tressaille, The garden whispers and quivers, Furtif et confidentiel; furtive and confiding; L’averse semble maille à maille stitch by stitch the downpour seems Tisser la terre avec le ciel. to weave together earth and sky.

Il pleut, et, les yeux clos, j’écoute, The rain falls, and I with closed eyes listen, De toute sa pluie à la fois, as with all its rain at once Le jardin mouillé qui s’égoutte the drenched garden drips Dans l’ombre que j’ai faite en moi. in the darkness I’ve made in my heart.

Translation by Richard Stokes from A French Song Companion (Johnson/Stokes) published by OUP. Please note that these translations may only be reproduced with the express permission of the translator.

Albert Roussel (1869-1937)

Nuit d’automne Op. 8 No. 3 (1907) Autumn night (Henri de Régnier)

Le couchant est si beau, parmi The sunset is so beautiful, amidst Les arbres d’or qu’il ensanglante the golden trees it stains with red, Que le jour qui meurt à demi, that day, half-dying, Retarde sa mort grave et lente. delays its solemn and slow death.

Le crépuscule, sur les roses, The dusk, on the roses, Est si pur, si calme et si doux, is so pure, so calm and so sweet, Que toutes ne se sont pas closes that not one of them has closed – Et que j’en cueille une pour vous. and I pick one for you.

Les feuilles chuchotent si bas, The leaves whisper so low, Une à une ou toutes ensemble one by one or all together D’arbre en arbre, qu’on ne sait pas, from tree to tree, that it is not clear Si tu ris, ou si le bois whether you are laughing or the wood tremble. is quivering.

La rivière coule si douce The river flows so gently Entre les roseaux bleus des prés between the meadows’ blue reeds, Si douce, si douce, si douce so gently, so gently, so gently Qu’on ne sait pas si vous pleurez. that it is not clear if you are weeping.

La nuit d’ombre, de soie et d’or Night of darkness, silk and gold Du fond du silence est venue, has emerged from profound silence, Et l’automne est si tiède encor and autumn is still so warm Que tu pourras t’endormir nue. that you could fall asleep naked.

Translation by Richard Stokes. Please note that these translations may only be reproduced with the express permission of the translator.

Albert Roussel (1869-1937)

Le bachelier de Salamanque The Salamanca student Op. 20 No. 1 (1919) (René Chalupt)

Où vas-tu, toi qui passes si tard Passer-by, where are you bound so late Dans les rues désertes de Salamanque, in Salamanca’s deserted streets, Avec ta toque noire et ta guitare, with black cap and guitar Que tu dissimules sous ta mante? concealed beneath your cloak?

Le couvre-feu est déjà sonné The curfew has already sounded, Et depuis longtemps dans leurs paisibles and for hours now in their peaceful maisons homes Les bourgeois dorment à poings fermés. the burghers have been fast asleep.

Ne sais-tu pas qu’un édit de l’alcade Are you not aware – the Alcade has decreed Ordonne de jeter en prison that all shall be cast into jail Tous les donneurs de sérénade, who sing their serenades, Que les malandrins couperont ta chaîne d’or, that brigands will cut your golden chain, Et que la fille de l’Almirante, and that the Almirante’s daughter, Pour qui vainement tu te tourmentes, for whom you vainly languish, Se moque de toi, derrière son mirador? mocks you from her mirador?

Translation by by Richard Stokes from A French Song Companion (Johnson/Stokes) published by OUP. Please note that these translations may only be reproduced with the express permission of the translator.

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn

Rheinlegendchen (1893) Little Rhine legend

Bald gras ich am Neckar, I mow by the Neckar, Bald gras ich am Rhein, I mow by the Rhine; Bald hab ich ein Schätzel, at times I’ve a sweetheart, Bald bin ich allein. at times I’m alone.

Was hilft mir das Grasen, What use is mowing, Wenn d’Sichel nicht schneidt, If the sickle won’t cut, Was hilft mir ein Schätzel, what use is a sweetheart, Wenn’s bei mir nicht bleibt. if she’ll not stay.

So soll ich denn grasen So if I’m to mow Am Neckar, am Rhein, by the Neckar, and Rhine, So werf ich mein goldenes I’ll throw in their waters Ringlein hinein. my little gold ring.

Es fliesset im Neckar It’ll flow in the Neckar Und fliesset im Rhein, and flow in the Rhine, Soll schwimmen hinunter and float right away Ins Meer tief hinein. to the depths of the sea.

Und schwimmt es das Ringlein, And floating, the ring So frisst es ein Fisch, will be gulped by a fish, Das Fischlein soll kommen the fish will be served Aufs Königs sein Tisch. at the King’s own table.

Das irdische Leben (1892-3) Life on earth

Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich, Mother, ah mother, I am starving. Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich. Give me bread or I shall die. Warte nur mein liebes Kind! Wait, only wait, my beloved child! Morgen wollen wir ernten geschwind. Tomorrow the reaping will be swiftly done.

Und als das Korn geerntet war, And when at last the corn was reaped, Rief das Kind noch immerdar: still the child kept on crying: Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich, Mother, ah mother, I am starving, Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich. give me bread or I shall die. Warte nur mein liebes Kind! Wait, only wait, my beloved child! Morgen wollen wir dreschen geschwind. Tomorrow the threshing will be swiftly done.

Und als das Korn gedroschen war, And when at last the corn was threshed, Rief das Kind noch immerdar: still the child kept on crying: Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich, Mother, ah mother, I am starving. Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich. Give me bread or I shall die. Warte nur mein liebes Kind! Wait, only wait, my beloved child! Morgen wollen wir backen geschwind. Tomorrow the baking will be swiftly done. Und als das Brot gebacken war, And when at last the bread was baked, Lag das Kind auf der Totenbahr. the child lay dead upon the bier.

Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen (1898) Where the splendid trumpets sound

Wer ist denn draussen und wer klopfet an, Who stands outside and knocks at my door, Der mich so leise wecken kann? waking me so gently? Das ist der Herzallerliebste dein, It is your own true dearest love, Steh auf und lass mich zu dir ein. arise, and let me in.

Was soll ich hier nun länger stehn? Why leave me longer waiting here? Ich seh die Morgenröt aufgehn, I see the rosy dawn appear, Die Morgenröt, zwei helle Stern, the rosy dawn and two bright stars. Bei meinem Schatz da wär ich gern, I long to be beside my love, Bei meinem Herzallerlieble. beside my dearest love.

Das Mädchen stand auf, und liess ihn ein, The girl arose and let him in, Sie heisst ihn auch willkommen sein. she bids him welcome too. Willkommen, lieber Knabe mein, O welcome, dearest love of mine, So lang hast du gestanden. too long have you been waiting.

Sie reicht ihm auch die schneeweisse Hand. She gives to him her snow white hand, Von Ferne sang die Nachtigall, from far off sang the nightingale, Das Mädchen fing zu weinen an. the girl began to weep.

Ach weine nicht, du Liebste mein, Ah, do not weep, my dearest love, Aufs Jahr sollst du mein eigen sein; within a year you shall be mine, Mein eigen sollst du werden gewiss, you shall be mine most certainly, Wies keine sonst auf Erden ist. as no one else on earth. O Lieb auf grüner Erden. O love upon the green earth.

Ich zieh’ in Krieg auf grüne Haid’, I’m going to war, to the green heath, Die grüne Haide, die ist so weit. the green heath so far away. Allwo dort die schönen Trompeten blasen, There where the splendid trumpets sound, Da ist mein Haus von grünem Rasen. there is my home of green turf.

Urlicht (?1892) Primordial light

O Röschen Rot, O red rose, Der Mensch liegt in größter Not, man lies in direst need, Der Mensch liegt in größter Pein, man lies in direst pain, Je lieber möcht ich im Himmel sein. I would rather be in heaven. Da kam ich auf einen breiten Weg, I then came upon a broad path, Da kam ein Engellein und wollt mich abweisen, an angel came and sought to turn me back, Ach nein ich ließ mich nicht abweisen. Ah no! I refused to be turned away. Ich bin von Gott und will wieder zu Gott, I am from God and to God I will return, Der liebe Gott wird mir ein Lichtchen geben, dear God will give me a light, Wird leuchten mir bis an das ewig selig Leben. will light my way to eternal blessed life.

Translations by Richard Stokes from The Book of Lieder published by Faber & Faber, with thanks to George Bird, co-author of The Fischer-Dieskau Book of Lieder published by Victor Gollancz Ltd 1976. Please note that these translations may only be reproduced with the express permission of the translator.

Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

Day after day (1922) (Rabindranath Tagore)

Day after day he comes and goes away. Go, and give him a flower from my hair, my friend. If he asks who it was that sent it, I entreat you do not tell him my name For he only comes and goes away.

He sits on the dust under the tree. Spread there a seat with flowers and leaves, my friend. His eyes are sad, and they bring sadness to my heart. He does not speak what he has in mind; He only comes and goes away.

Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

Speak to me, my love! (1924) (Rabindranath Tagore)

Speak to me, my love! Tell me in words what you sang. The night is dark. The stars are lost in clouds. The wind is sighing through the leaves. I will let loose my hair. My blue cloak will cling round me like the night. I will clasp your head to my bosom; And there in the sweet loneliness murmur on your heart. I will shut my eyes and listen. I will not look in your face. When your words are ended, we will sit still and silent. Only the trees will whisper in the dark. The night will pale. The day will dawn. We shall look at each other’s eyes and go on our different paths. Speak to me, my love! Tell me in words what you sang.

Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)

Two movements from Sky Pictures: Cloud Language & Cloud River

Unfortunately we are unable to reproduce the texts for the above songs on this occasion.