Die Mainacht (Vier Gesänge, Op. 43, No. 2) - Johannes Brahms

Michelle Mariel Mariposa, mezzosoprano
Dr. Michelle Nicolasora, piano

From 2020 Voice Recital, featuring students of Christopher Arceo
18 January 2020
Church of the Risen Lord

A setting of a poem by Ludwig Christoph Heinrich Hölty. The text describes a man walking through the woods, grieving his lost love. The music paints both hope and melancholy, as the persona navigates through the night that offers ecstasy and relief, but ends in a lonely, quivering tear streaming through his cheek.

Die Mainacht
Wann der silberne Mond durch die Gesträuche blinkt,
Und sein schlummerndes Licht über den Rasen streut,
Und die Nachtigall flötet,
Wandl’ ich traurig von Busch zu Busch.

Überhüllet vom Laub, girret ein Taubenpaar
Sein Entzücken mir vor; aber ich wende mich,
Suche dunklere Schatten,
Und die einsame Träne rinnt.

Wann, o lächelndes Bild, welches wie Morgenrot
Durch die Seele mir strahlt, find’ ich auf Erden dich?
Und die einsame Träne
Bebt mir heißer die Wang’ herab.

The May Night
When the silvery moon gleams through the bushes,
And sheds its slumbering light on the grass,
And the nightingale is fluting,
I wander sadly from bush to bush.

Covered by leaves, a pair of doves
Coo to me their ecstasy; but I turn away,
Seek darker shadows,
And the lonely tear flows down.

When, O smiling vision, that shines through my soul
Like the red of dawn, shall I find you here on earth?
And the lonely tear
Quivers more ardently down my cheek.