The mind is like Ariadne’s thread! When I read Katerina’s response to my post on Riga, my mind traveled to the Dead City, Die Tote Stadt, the Opera of Erich Korngold. and its magnificent aria, “Joy sent from above”. I dedicate this post to Katerina.
The opera is based on a novel by Georges Rodenbach, Bruges la Morte. The story is about Paul, a man who lost his wife Maria, and wonders in the city of Bruges, half asleep half awake, in a state of hallucination and mental disorder.
Marietta is a woman he meets and he considers to be Maria. Eventually he gets over the trauma of losing Maria, and leaves Bruges to continue his life.
“Mariettas lied” [Glück das mir verblieb}
Glück, das mir verblieb,
rück zu mir, mein treues Lieb.
Abend sinkt im Hag
bist mir Licht und Tag.
Bange pochet Herz an Herz
Hoffnung schwingt sich himmelwärts.
Joy, sent from above
Hold me close, my faithful love
Darkness ends the day
You will light my way
Fear is throbbing in our hearts
Hope is rising heavenward
Naht auch Sorge trüb,
rück zu mir, mein treues Lieb.
Neig dein blaß Gesicht
Sterben trennt uns nicht.
Mußt du einmal von mir gehn,
glaub, es gibt ein Auferstehn.
Joyful days must flee
Dearest love, stay close to me
Time will pass away
But true love will stay
Though we have to part in pain
Yonder there we’ll meet again
Anne Sofie von Otter, the Swedish mezzo-soprano, in one of the best performances of the aria. The music of the aria is subliminal heaven. Otter’s singing is divine. The chamber atmosphere emphasizes the sensitivity of the music. I do not need to say anything more.