A rare and practically unknown recording by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, that is not widely available on records, from an obscure 1952 radio broadcast. She sings the celebrated aria 'Glück das mir verblieb' from the opera Die tote Stadt by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, with the Hamburg Rundfunkorchester conducted by Wilhelm Schüchter. Schwarzkopf never sang this opera, nor indeed any other work by Korngold, not even his lieder as far as I am aware - a great pity, given the rapt quality she brings to this much recorded aria, that few can match. The photos of Schwarzkopf (circa 1950) and that of Korngold (1922) are from my private collection.
Watch videos with other singers performing Gluck das mir verblieb:
Gluck, das mir verblieb,
Rück zu mir, mein treues Lieb.
Abend sinkt im Haag
Bist mir Licht und Tag.
Bange pochet Herz an Herz.
Hoffnung schwingt sich himmelwärts.
PAUL
(wie verloren)
Wie wahr, ein traurig Lied.
MARIETTA
Das Lied vom treuen Lieb,
Das sterben muß.
(wird aufmerksam)
Was haben Sie?
PAUL
Ich kenne das Lied.
Ich hört es oft in jungen,
In Schöneren Tagen...
Es hat noch eine Strophe,
Weiß ich sie noch?
(er setzt mechanisch fort. Sie spielt die Laute und fällt
ein. Die Strahlen der untergehenden Sonne überfluten
beide.)
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.
(läßt erschüttert das Haupt auf die Brust sinken.
Marietta blickt ihn erst befremdet, dann spöttisch
an. Pause.)
English Libretto or Translation:
MARIETTA
Well, listen.
(Sings)
Gluck, that remained to me,
Back to me, my faithful love.
Evening falls in the Hague
I am light and day.
Bange pushes heart to heart.
Hope is swinging heavenwards.
PAUL
(as lost)
How true, a sad song.
MARIETTA
The song of the faithful love,
That must die.
(becomes attentive)
What do you have?
PAUL
I know this song.
I often hear it in boys,
In Nicer days ...
It still has a stanza,
Do I still remember her?
(He continues mechanically.) She plays the lute and falls
on. The rays of the setting sun are flooding
both.)
Seam also worry cloudy,
Back to me, my faithful love.
Tilt your pale face,
Dying does not separate us.
Do you ever have to go from me,
Believe, there is a resurgence.
(lets his head sink to his chest in shock.
Marietta looks at him strangely, then mockingly
on. Pause.)