Schubert Ständchen "Zögernd leise" - Bethan Langford, the Alma Mater Ensemble, Alice Turner

www.bethanlangfordmezzo.co.uk/
Bethan Langford, mezzo soprano - Alice Turner, piano & the Alma Mater Ensemble perform Ständchen "Zögernd leise" op post 135 by Franz Schubert, from a poem by Ludwig Rellstab.
the Alma Mater Ensemble:
Soprano 1- Belen Barnaus Mendez, Lorena Pas Nieto, Laura Ruhí Vidal
Soprano 2- Joana Gil, Suzi Saperia
Alto 1- Holly Bingham, Emily Kyte
Alto 2- Chloë Treharne, Dagmar Zeromska
GERMAN...
Zögernd, leise,
in der Dunkelsnächtger Hülle
sind wir hier.
Und den Finger sanft gekrümmt,
leiseleise pochen wir an des Liebchens Kammertür.
Doch nun steigend, schwellend, bebend,
mit vereinter Stimme, Laut,
rufen aus wir hochvertraut:
schlaf du nicht, wenn der Neigung Stimme spricht.
Sucht ein Weiser nah und ferne
Menschen einst mit der Laterne,
wie viel seltner dann als Gold
Menschen uns geneigt und hold,
drum wenn Freundschaft spricht, Liebe spricht,
Freundin, Liebchen,
schlaf du nicht.
Aber was in allen Reichen
wär dem Schlummer zu vergleichen?
Drum statt Worten und statt Gaben
sollst du nun auch Ruhe haben,
noch ein Grüßchen, noch ein Wort,
es verstummt die frohe Weise,
leise, leise schleichen wir,
ja, schleichen wir uns wieder fort.
ENGLISH...
Reluctantly, quietly,
Dunkelsnächtger in the shell
we are here.
And the finger is curved gently,
softlyquietly, we knock at the beloved chamber door.
And now growing, swelling, trembling,
with one voice, sound,
highly familiar call from us:
Do not sleep when love speaks the voice.
Is looking for a wise man near and far
People once with the lantern,
how much more rare than gold
People we like and hold,
drum speaks when friendship, love, talks
Friend, my love,
do not sleep.
But what of all the rich
would compare the slumber?
So instead of words and gifts
You shall now have peace,
still a greeting, a word,
It silenced the good way;
softly, softly we sneak
yes, we slink away again.

[@johncourt3451]

Oh Bethan I 'm all aquiver even at 80 years of age !! Glorious voice in the finest British tradition which beats the lot. Sing on dear lady and let the world rejoice!!

[@victorgrauer5834]

I must agree. Her voice is absolutely thrilling, and her musicianship faultless.

[@fvshkatie]

I was part of the University of WIsconsin-Madison women's chorus over 25 years ago. We performed this piece in concert and I can still sing along with this recording (alto). What a beautiful listen it is!

[@chuffchas]

Beautiful! Terrific accompanist too.

[@victorgrauer5834]

Looks like all those tedious voice-leading exercises paid off! :-) Seriously, this is one of those truly divine works that sounds like it came directly from heaven. Possibly my favorite among all Schubert's great compositions. As for the singing in this rendition, it's beyond perfection. The Mezzo's voice is pure gold. What a great KZbin discovery.

[@hypehuman]

Incredible musicians! At first I thought the acting was a bit much, but I got into it and started to really enjoy it.

[@musicdepartment7702]

Wonderful interpretation of this gorgeous piece. Bravissima!

[@ernent]

The poem is not by Rellstab but by Franz Grillparzer, who wrote also the famous epitaph on Schubert's tomb:"The art of music here entombed a rich possession; but even far fairer hopes." It's the other famous "Ständchen" ("Leise flehen meine Lieder") from "Schwanengesang" that is by Rellstab. (There's a previous comment noting this but it's in German). Wonderful, heartfelt performance in any case.

[@avagaughan6839]

Yes! Funny, I was about to point that out! XD

[@JEOS]

That's Schubert! So wonderful like himself!

[@richchau]

wonderful arrangement! and beautiful voices!

[@chbrish]

Superbe et très expressif !

[@Biris96]

che bello! l'ho cantato anch'io con la filarmonica romana..........tanti anni fa!

[@henkerfastwalker]

Beautiful performance ! Congratulations ! Even so very late !

[@forrestkim2919]

Beautiful ! ! ! So artistic ..........

[@renevelazquezpineda9355]

Bellisima interpretación .

[@isingbecauseiam]

You sing this piece wonderfully, Bethan. Your voice has the quality, egality and expressivity for a huge career. Where are you now and what are you up to?

[@marc-antoinedegueurce7404]

Very good Music

[@RgVnHwL86]

Erg mooi is dit lied

[@RobtDelaney]

I love this piece, but usually prefer it sung by a mezzo backed up by a male chorus. This is the best all-female performance I've ever heard, and is now one of my very favourites.

[@johncourt3451]

Robert Delaney Like you Robert I can't play it enough.‼️🍮A thousand times better than crème caramel‼️‼️‼️

[@glenndabreo3581]

I agree that a male chorus makes for a terrific sound...

[@BLEUDART]

i love this

[@laudanosin]

Sehr schön!

[@concertoromano]

Totally loved this. :-)

[@olivier.gagnon]

Love this. Really beautiful work!

[@shubitoxX]

So beatiful ♥️

[@astronomo16]

Encantador!

[@jackroks]

This is pretty fantastic.

[@cml9862]

very very good!!

[@colasbreugnon4898]

superbe travail , que de belles voix !

[@HeardMusic12]

Utterly delightful

[@eovgod]

Bethan: I love you.

[@johncourt3451]

jack london No you don't Jack. In fact I am thinking of pistols at whatever distance dear boy!!

[@eovgod]

Sensacional! Es una delicia.

[@tinalee8732]

這是我從小最喜歡的舒伯特歌曲之一

[@marliesrabisch784]

Der Text ist von Grillparzer, nicht von Rellstab, von ihm ist das Schubert Ständchen: Leise flehen meine Lieder. Diese Interpretation ist sehr schön gesungen, und schauspielerisch humorvoll dargestellt.

[@EmilyKyteSinger]

rayangreene That's me at 1.58! Thanks! Not a patch on Bethan though!

[@gooberwench]

Very well done!! It's a bold moment for second altos coming in - I've been in that same spot myself and I really loved this rendition! Bravo tutti!

[@JoshOwl]

Very good company.

[@dalangie]

In the first verse it should be " In des Dunkels nächt'ger Stille", what could be translated as "In the nocturnal silence of the darkness"

[@hansdekorver7365]

" Hülle " in the original text. " Stille " by Schubert only in the second version ( this one )

[@thomcastano5052]

This is one of my 3 favorite pieces and I've preformed it several times in the choir as well as a baritone soloist... never appreciating the female choir before this rendition... very nice, blend was good which is hard to get with higher frequency voices... one thing... the tempo was a hair slow... otherwise, beautiful

[@thrunsalmighty]

This is wonderful. I like the humorous gestures of the choir too. But see also Janet Baker's recording where you can watch the music go by. I think your English version needs to translate the word "drum" as if it were "darum", which really means "about it", but in the context of this song probably has one of its less frequent meanings: "Therefore". Unless of course, you really do want to wake the "Freundin" up with a surprise.

[@tritonusgesang]

Brillantissime! - Besonders die Choreografie zum Lied.

[@SebastianWBauer-oo1sx]

What a most wonderful peformace (and a little pitty, that the lady on the left in th choir was covered up mst of the time), Sebastian Bauer

[@RgVnHwL86]

Erg mooi

[@rayangreene]

Bethan Langford's voice is breathtaking of course, but who on earth is the wonderful contralto at 1.58???? Please, would someone let me know?

[@BLEUDART]

danke

[@CINEMAN8]

[@Rumiton]

This is really good. I don't mind the hamming it up, that's better than doing this as a straight choral piece. This is a bawdy, bawdy song and that shouldn't be lost. The English above isn't right. Here's my attempt.. Hesitant, silent Under cover of the night's darkness Here we are. Here we are. And with finger softly curled Softly, softly Now we tap on our darling's bedroom door. Then with lifting, rising United voices in our intimacy We are crying out loud. Never sleep, when the voice Of desire speaks! A wise man once sought high and low With his lantern looking Just for a human being. How much rarer then than gold, Is a human being that is dear and sweet to us? So when friendship speaks, Love is speaking And darling lady Do not sleep! . . . . . But again, in all the world What is there to compare with slumber? So without bothering you with gifts Or words, we will leave you now So you can have your sleep too. Without a greeting, without a word The happy song falls silent And quietly, quietly Off we creep Silently we creep away.

[@hansdekorver7365]

www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/3209

[@herbertfussl9536]

famos

[@wolfgangeubel7637]

Zögernd LEISE --- von SCHUBERT, nicht von WAGNER, gnä Frau Bethan... Sonst herzerweichend schön.

[@thrunsalmighty]

This is wonderful. I like the humorous gestures of the choir too. But see also Janet Baker's recording where you can watch the music go by. I think your English version needs to translate the word "drum" as if it were "darum", which really means "about it", but in the context of this song probably has one of its less frequent meanings: "Therefore". Unless of course, you really do want to wake the "Freundin" up with a surprise.