the bastard love child
UPDATE BELOW
Sir Roger is in love with a man … and a new woman …
In fact Sir Roger has been infatuated with the man more or less constantly since his early childhood.
The Man’s name is Robert Schumann and he wrote Dichterliebe, the love-song cycle which Sir Roger’s father, Lord Migently, used to sing so passionately and beautifully to his Princess all those centuries ago.
But why this sudden revival of passion? Sir Roger has discovered, belatedly in his dull ignorance, a Lieder singer of special brilliance that probably the whole world knew about – except him.
She is the Other – the New – Woman. Her name is Barbara Bonney and her voice is simply exquisite and pure as moonlight on snow.
Sir Roger heard her singing Schumann’s “Mondnacht” (Moon-night), accompanied by Vladimir Ashkenazy, on ABC Classic FM today and was instantly transported into the glimmering, ethereal night in a wintry 19th-century German forest. Heartbreakingly beautiful and tender. After he had exhausted the tissue box he searched for this woman and found her here at Se Vuoi Pace, otherwise known as handelismygod¹.
Se Vuoi Pace reveals that Ms Bonney may be singing at the Lieder Festival, “Lied und Lyrik”, at Coburg in Bavaria, in 2011 in the northern autumn. Sir Roger is determined to be there.
So here is Barbara Bonney singing Schumann’s “Mondnacht”, accompanied by (we think) Vladimir Ashkenazy:
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that in a shower of blossoms
She must only dream of him.The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.And my soul stretched
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.………………
Es war, als hätt’ der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nun träumen müßt.Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog durch die stillen Lande,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.
UPDATE: See comments below for more, juicy, excellent and timely information. And meet the owner of Si Vuoi Pace.
¹ The owner of the website says that “Handel reminds us … real life is the bastard love child of tragedy and comedy (conceived in a drunken stupor in a bus shelter at 2am, possibly with a member of your own family).” We don’t think so. At least we don’t think Handel said that. Did he? Not the bit about the bus shelter, anyway. But Sir Roger does like the sentiment before the parentheses, as a conceit.
Technorati Tags: music, classical, classical music, Schumann, Robert Schumann, Mondnacht, Moon-night, romantic, romance, tragedy, comedy Lieder, dichterliebe, liederkreis, Bonney, Barbara Bonney, Vladimir Ashkenazy, soprano, piano, Coburg, Lied und Lyrik, festival, music festival, Bavaria, Handel, culture, ABC Classic FM, values, musical values, classical values, Australian values, Australian culture, Australian cultural values, video
Posted: February 26th, 2010 under Australian Values, Culture, Life, Video, audio, music, values.
Comments: 6
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Comments
Comment from wanderer
Time: 27 February, 2010, 12:46 am
In case your search didn’t also lead you to her Andrew Ford interview, which he opens with the Mondnacht, recorded during her recent Sydney (her recital had Ashkenazy in the audience, not on piano) the podcast is here.
Comment from Purity McCall
Time: 27 February, 2010, 6:16 am
Dearest Sir Roger
How wonderful to find a man of such obvious wit and taste ‘down under’. Well as the aforementioned website owner I wanted to let you know that Ms Bonney’s appearance at Lied und Lyrik is indeed confirmed – and as the festival venues are small I suggest a weather eye is kept on the festival website to ensure that your box of hankies gets a pubic airing (I fully expect to be dissolved in tears at the back of the room the entire time!!). Being ‘up here’ I was lucky enough to discover her in live performance many years ago and can attest that she really is the most wonderful Lieder performer. It may be a year and some away but the Festival is absolutely the highlight of my cultural horizon.
Purity
PS well I am not sure if Herr Handel actually ‘said’ that but he most certainly reminded us of it in most of his operas ;-)
Comment from roger migently
Time: 27 February, 2010, 10:33 am
As Maxwell Smart used to say, “Missed it by that much!” Thank you, oh liminal being, for the link to the podcast which one has now downloaded. One’s education continues. There is no shame in ignorance as long as we see it as merely the wrapping paper for the gift of growth. (Yes, all right, you can use that.)
Comment from roger migently
Time: 27 February, 2010, 10:41 am
One is very pleased indeed to make your acquaintance, Ms Purity, and to be able to thank you in person (iykwim) for the information which has so inspired one. Or, if you prefer: G’day!
Perhaps we will meet in Coburg. You might recognise one by one’s ermine-trimmed robe, bright hose and buckled shoon. And the crown with the dangling corks.
(btw, Sir Roger is bound to use this International Endorsement And Accreditation of his “wit and taste” in all future representations for advancement, money, private entry and, frankly, sex. If you don’t mind?)
Comment from Barbara C
Time: 27 February, 2010, 5:45 pm
Exquisite – ice and fire. A Krug champagne of a voice. You are indeed adding to my knowledge of the finer things in life.
Thank you.
Barbara C.
Comment from Purity McCall
Time: 28 February, 2010, 12:24 am
Dear Sir Roger
I should be quite charmed to make your acquaintance in Upper Bavaria. I shall be with my retinue of ladies companions: Miss Mildred (a dowdy creature of suspect parentage but most handy in an emergency – she was the Little Titmarsh Ladies Boxing Champion of 1927 and 1929… though we draw a veil over the incident in 1928); and Miss Suzette, a quite charming filly of foreign extraction though terribly flighty (I should keep an eye on her Sir Roger she is quite the little minx when she wants to be).
Anyway, must dash. The butcher’s boy is banging at my back entrance – wanting his bill settled no doubt. I really don’t know but ever since the war I find tradespeople have become quite rude. I blame the government.
TTFN
The Right Hon. Purity MacCall DDSO, MBCEng, ACDC (Retd.)
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