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CHRISTA LUDWIG Mezzo-Soprano ERIK WERBA, Pianist

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CHRISTA LUDWIG Mezzo-Soprano ERIK WERBA, Pianist 1967 Eighty-ninth Season 1968 UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Charles A. Sink, President Gail W. Rector, Executive Director Lester McCoy, Conductor Fifth Concert Eighty-ninth Annual Choral Union Series Complete Series 3593 Forty-ninth program in the Sesquicentennial Year of The University of Michigan CHRISTA LUDWIG Mezzo-Soprano ERIK WERBA, Pianist TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 31, 1967, AT 8: 30 HILL AUDITORIUM, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN PRO G RAM Ich ging mit Lust durch einen gruenen Wald MAHLER Rheinlegendchen MAHLER Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt MAHLER Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42 (Adalbert von Chamisso) SCHUMANN Seit ich ihn gesehen Er, der Herrlichste von allen Ich kann's nicht fassen, nicht glauben Du Ring an meinem Finger Helft mir, ihr Schwestern Susser Freund, du blickest An meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan INTERMISSION Sapphische Ode, Op. 94, No.4 (Hans Schmidt) BRAHMS Die Mainacht, Op. 43, No.2 (Ludwig Hoelty) BRAHMS Maedchenlied, Op. 107 , No. 5 (Heyse) BRAHMS Von ewiger Liebe, Op. 43, No.1 (Josef Wenzig) BRAHMS Three Songs from the "Moerike-Lieder" HuGO WOLF W 0 find' ich Trost Frage und Antwort Nimmersatte Liebe Du meines Herzens Kroenelein, Op. 21, No.2 (Dahn) RICHARD STRAUSS Schlechtes Wetter, Op. 69, No.5 (Heine) RICHARD STRAUSS Caecille, Op. 27, No.2 (Hart) RICHARD STRAUSS Records: Angel, Deutsche Grammophon, London, Vox A R S LON G A V I T A BREVIS Ich ging mit Lust durch einen griinen Wald MAHLER I wander cheerfully through a green forest The moon shines through the little window and hear the birds singing; at the sweet, gentle beloved The green forest birds sing with voices The nightingale sings all night long. of youth and of wisdom. You sleepy maiden, take care. I love to hear them sing. Where is your beloved? I am withdrawn from the world Now sing, sing, Lady Nightingale, with whom I wasted so much time; sing your song to my loved one: My beloved has not heard from me for a come, when darkness falls long time. She may think I died. and no one is in the street and then come to me And it does not matter to me at all and I will let you in. if she thinks I am dead. I cannot say anything against this because I The day passed, the night began am truly dead as far as tbe world is concerned. he came to his sweetheart he knocks lightly: I am numb to the worldly strife "Ah, are you asleep or awake, my child? and I rest in a quiet world of my own. I have heen waiting for such a long time." I live alone in my heaven in my loves, in my song. Rheinlegendchen . MAHLER I cut grass on the Neckar now, now on the And while it drifts, a fish will swallow it. Rhine, The fish will get on the king's table. I have a sweetheart now, now I am alone. And the king will ask: Whose is the ring? Why should I cut grass if the sickle's not sharp? And my sweetheart will answer: the ring is Why should I have a sweetheart, if she forsakes mine. me? My sweetheart will hurry over mountain and So if I cut grass on the Neckar and on the vale Rhine, To bring back to me my ring of gold. I'll throw my golden ring into the river. You may cut grass on the Neckar and on the It will Row down the Neckar and down the Rhine Rhine. And safely throw in your little ring. Let it drift out to the deep sea. Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt MAHLER Anthony finds the church empty when he comes Also the crawfish and turtles, usually slow of to preach movement, So he goes to the river, to preach to the fishes. Have hurriedly risen from the depth to listen They shake their tails, glittering in the sunshine. to this voice. The carps, male and female, have all come, Never he fore have stockfislies enjoyed a sermon Flinging wide open their mouths, better to so much. listen. Fishes little and big, noble and lowly Never have fishes enjoyed a sermon so much I Are raising their heads like intelligent beings By God's wish to hear the sermon. Pikes with pointed noses, who always fight Have come running to hear the Saint. The sermon over, each one goes back: Even those dreamers who always fast, The pikes remain thieves, the eels go after The stockfishes, I mean, are attending the everything. sermon. They loved the sermon, they remain what they Never have fishes enjoyed a sermon so muchl were. The crawfish go home, the stockfishes remain The good eels and the sturgeons who love fine fat, cuisine The carps gorge themselves, the sermon's Even they tool. the trouhle to hear the sermon. forgotten. Frau nlicbe und Leben, Op. 42 (Adalbert von Chamisso) SCHUMANN Seit ich ihn gesehen Ah I since first I saw him, All that once could cheer me, Sight indeed seems gone I Shapeless fades away, For I see around me, Oft I sit in silence, His dear face alonel While my sisters play, Like a waking vision, And they find me weeping Rising to my view, In my chamber alonel Ever through the darkness Ah! since first I saw him, Darting forth anew. Sight indeed seems gone! Three Songs from the "Moerike-Lieder" WOLF W 0 find ich Trost and why I did not take out the bitter sting I know a love which is true a long time ago? and has been true since I discovered it Tell me why the wind moves the wings with and with renewing deep sighs such speed I tied myself to this love and forgave everything. and where the quiet spring's water leads to. Hold up the wind for mel One who once with heavenly patience Hold back the sweet spring with your magic drank bitter, bitter drops of death and wandl hung on the cross and atoned for my sins until they sank into a sea of forgiveness. Nimmersatte Liebe And why is it now, that I am so sad So is love, so is love I tba t I cower on the ground anxiously It can't be quenched by kisses; Question: My Protector, will the night be over Who is the fool, that wants to fill a sieve soon? With nought but water? And what will save me from death and sin? And if you'd ladle a thousand years, yes, Wicked heart, confess you bave again If you'd kiss eternally, experienced You cannot satisfy her. malicious longing, pious love, signs of pious All love brings every hour faith, acb, they are long vanisbed. Novel, strange desires; Our bites brought blood upon our lips, Yes, that is why I am sad When today we were kissing. so tbat I am cowering on the ground with The maiden is all in stride; anxiety. Protector, Protector, will night be Like a compliant lamb beneath the cleaver. over soon? And what will save me from death Her eyes implored: by no means stop, and sin? The more it hurts the betterl So is love and always was as long as love's Frage und A ntwort existed. Do you ask me from where this love came to And even Solomon the Wise my heart Loved in this very fashion. Du meines Herzens Kroenelein, Op. 21, No.2 (Dahn) STRAUSS You are the crown of my heart, The others seek love and favors you are of pure gold with a thousand false words. if others be around, yet you You, without tricks of your mouth are the loveliest. and eyes, are lovable everywhere. The others seem pretentious, You are like the rose in the woods, you are sweet and quiet. it does not know it is blooming, Yet, it brings joy to the passerby. Schlechtes Wetter, Op. 69, No.5 (Heine) STRAUSS The weather is rough today: I think she has been shopping, rain, storm, and sleet I buying flour, eggs, and butter I sit at my window and peer to bake a cake out into the darkness. for her grown-up daughter. A lone little light glimmers out there, The daughter sits at home, in the arm-chair wandering slowly on: winking sleepily into the light; a little old woman with a lantern her golden curls fall hobbles across the street. about her sweet face. Caecille, Op. 27, No.2 (Hart) STRAUSS If you but knew with soft words what it is to dream your weary soul, of burning kisses, if you only knew it of roving and resting you would come to me. with the one you love, eye to eye, If you bu t knew and caressing and babbling; what it is to live if you but knew it, inspired by godhood's you would incline your heart. world-creating breath, to soar upward If you bu t knew borne on the light what it is to fret to blessed heights­ in lonely nights, if you but knew it, while the rain is pouring you would live with me. and no one there to comfort Er, der H errlichste von Allen Hellt mir, ihr Schwestern Oh! thou grandest, best of mortals! Come, dearest sister, Who with thee can e'er compare? Do draw near me, Face, the noblest! Eyes, the brightest! In my happiness join me now! Mind sublime and courage rare! Let thy deft fingers Swiftly adorn me, Like that star now shining brightly, Place the myrtle wreath on my brow! Far in yonder azure sky, So dost shine, far, far above me, Ah! how my dear one From thy heav'nly sphere on high! Ardently pleaded, When we were dreaming the moment away, Keep the path that lied before thee! How, with his dear eyes Let me only see thy light; Radiantly beaming, From afar let me behold thee, Oft he'd entreat me to hasten tile day! Happy in my cheerless night! Help me, dear sisters, Hear not thou my fervent praying, Stay my heart's beating, For thy bliss and thine alone! Help me to stem these foolish tears! Ne'er shouldst know the lowly maidenl So that in gladness Star that moves in loftier zone! I may receive him, When he, the light of my heart, appears! Oh! that one, all pure and worthy, Thou may'st choose to be my bride Come, my belov'd one, I would be the first to bless her, Come! I await thee, In my heartfelt pride! Thou art my sunshine pure and bright! Let me in meekness, joy and devotion, I'd rejoice amid my weeping, Kneel at thy shrine, Oh! my fountain of light! Happy,
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