Despite the great version sung by Diana Damrau, since we saw Barbara Bonney sing it, we just can't get it out of our head, and it's monday morning and everybody needs a bit of tenderness sometimes.
The lyrics are from Victor Hugo and the music by Liszt
Oh! When I Sleep
Oh, when I sleep, approach my bed, As Laura appeared to Petrach; And when in passing, your breath touches me... Suddenly my lips Will part!
On my glum face, where perhaps is ending A dark dream which lasted too long, As your glance like a star arises... Suddenly my dream Will become radiant!
Then on my lips, where a flame is fluttering, A flash of love that God has kept pure, Place a kiss, and from an angel, become a woman... Suddenly my soul Will be awakened.
Oh! quand je dors, viens auprès de ma couche, comme à Pétrarque apparaissait Laura, Et qu'en passant ton haleine me touche... Soudain ma bouche S'entrouvrira!
Sur mon front morne où peutêtre s'achève Un songe noir qui trop longtemps dura, Que ton regard comme un astre se lève... Soudain mon rêve Rayonnera!
Puis sur ma lèvre où voltige une flamme, Éclair d'amour que Dieu même épura, Pose un baiser, et d'ange deviens femme... Soudain mon âme S'éveillera!
One major opera star of the 70's and the 80's, with a voice still considered as an abnormality is the incomparable Edda Moser.
Combining a real talent in acting and a striking voice of power and great extent, she graved in stones roles as Die Königin der Nacht, and other mozart heroins.
Since we're living in a state of blues recently we dug up this lovely Lied written by gay Schubert and sung by Hermann Prey and Edda.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION (by Kathy Wolfe):
Love is a sweet light
As the Earth yearns for the sun
And for each bright star
In the wide blue faraway
So yearns the heart for the joy of Love
For it is a sweet light.
See how high, in silent celebration
Far over there, bright stars sparkle!
From the earth they flee, [from] that dark
Confusion-filled, troubled veil.
Woe is me, how troubled
I feel, deep in my soul,
Which in joy once bloomed;
Now made desolate, without Love.
Love is a sweet light
As the Earth yearns for the sun
And for each bright star
In the wide blue faraway
So yearns the heart for the joy of Love:
Love is a sweet light.
GERMAN LYRICS:
Liebe ist ein süßes Licht.
Wie die Erde strebt zur Sonne
Und zu jenen hellen Sternen
In den weiten blauen Fernen,
Strebt das Herz nach Liebeswonne;
Denn sie ist ein süßes Licht.
Sieh, wie hoch in stiller Feier
Droben helle Sterne funkeln:
Von der Erde fliehn die dunkeln,
Schwermutsvollen trüben Schleier.
Wehe mir, wie so trübe
Fühl' ich tief mich im Gemüte,
Das in Freuden sonst erblüte,
Nun vereinsamt, ohne Liebe.
Liebe ist ein süßes Licht.
Wie die Erde strebt zur Sonne
Und zu jenen hellen Sternen
In den weiten blauen Fernen,
Strebt das Herz nach Liebeswonne:
Liebe ist ein süßes Licht.
