[12/9/2011] Preview: It's the old minor-to-major switcheroo -- courtesy of Mahler, Schubert, and Donizetti (continued)

Tenor Roberto Alagna sings (a variant version of) Nemorino's "Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's Elixir of Love. (This version's startling second-stanza alterations actually don't concern us here.) The switch to the major for "M'ama, m'ama" comes at 1:18.


NOW HERE ARE OUR SCHUBERT AND DONIZETTI
CASES OF MINOR-TO-MAJOR-KEY SWITCHEROOS

(2) Schubert: the last stanza of the first song, "Gute Nacht" ("Good Night"), from his great song cycle Winterreise (Winter Journey)

Don't want to disturb your dreams;
would spoil your rest.
(You) mustn't hear my footsteps --
softly, softly close the doors.
(I) write, as I proceed,
on your gate: Good night.
So that you may see,
of you I have thought.

[audio link]

(3) Donizetti: the beloved aria "Una furtiva lagrima" ("A furtive tear") from Act II of his opera The Elixir of Love

This is a very different case from the others: Here it's not the major but the minor key that's unexpected. Also, in this clip we don't actually hear the switch from minor to major here. (We heard it in the Roberto Alagna video clip above, and we'll hear it when we hear the full aria below.) But at the end of the clip we can hear the music slip back into the minor for the second stanza.

She loves me, yes, she loves me.
I can see it, I can see it.

[audio link]

HERE ARE THE COMPLETE SELECTIONS
WITH OUR MINOR-TO-MAJOR SWITCHES

(1) MAHLER: Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children): No. 5, "In diesem Wetter" ("In this weather")

In this weather, in this bluster,
never would I have sent the children out.
They were taken out.
I had nothing to say about it.

In this weather, in this storm,
never would I have sent the children out.
I would have been afraid that they would catch sick.
Those are now idle thoughts.

In this weather, in this horror,
never would I have sent the children out.
I worried they might die tomorrow.
That's now not to be worried about.

In this weather, in this bluster,
never would I have sent the children out.
They were taken out.
I had nothing to say about it.

[3:06] In this weather, in this storm, in this bluster,
they're resting as if in their mother's house,
not frightened by any storm,
by God's hand protected,
they're resting as if in their mother's house.

Thomas Hampson, baritone; Vienna Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, cond. DG, recorded live, October 1988 [audio link]

(2) SCHUBERT: Winterreise (Winter Journey), D. 911:
No. 1, "Gute Nacht" ("Good Night")

A stranger I arrived here,
a stranger I go hence.
Maytime was good to me,
with many a bunch of flowers.
The girl spoke of love,
the mother even of marriage.
Now the world is dismal,
the path veiled in snow.

For my journey I cannot
choose my own time;
I must pick the way myself
through this darkness.
My moon-cast shadow acts
as my companion,
and on the white meadow
I look for deer's footprints.

Why should I stay longer,
until they drive me away?
Let stray dogs howl
outside the master's house.
Love loves to wander --
God made it so --
from one to the other.
Sweetheart, good night!

[4:00] Don't want to disturb your dreams;
would spoil your rest.
(You) mustn't hear my footsteps --
softly, softly close the doors.
(I) write, as I proceed,
on your gate: Good night.
So that you may see,
of you I have thought.

-- English translation of stanzas 1-3 by William Mann

Jorma Hynninen, baritone; Ralf Gothóni, piano. Fuga, recorded Nov. 19-23, 1980 [audio link]

(3) DONIZETTI: L'Elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love):
Act II, Aria, Nemorino, "Una furtiva lagrima" ("A furtive tear")

Caruso's fourth and last recording of "Una furtiva lagrima" has to be one of the most celebrated vocal recordings of all time.

A furtive tear
welled up in her eye.
Those carefree girls
she seemed to envy.
Why should I look any further?
[1:39] She loves me, yes, she loves me.
I can see it, I can see it.

To feel for just one moment
the beating of her dear heart!
To blend my sighs
for a little with hers!
Heavens, I could die;
I ask for nothing more.
I could die of love.

-- English translation by Kenneth Chalmers

Enrico Caruso, tenor; orchestra. Victor, recorded in New York, Nov. 26, 1911 [audio link]

IN THIS WEEK'S SUNDAY CLASSICS POST --

We'll hear more of, and look more closely at, our three minor-to-major selections.


RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE POST

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