Christa Ludwig (born 16 March 1928) is a retired German lyric mezzo-soprano, distinguished for her performances of opera, Lieder, oratorio, and other major religious works like masses and passions, and solos contained in symphonic literature. Her career spanned from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. She is widely recognised as one of the most significant and distinguished singers of the 20th century. Ludwig made her American debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Dorabella in Così fan tutte in 1959. That same year, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro and subsequently sang 121 performances in 15 different roles with the company until 1993. At the Metropolitan Opera, where she quickly became one of the audience's favourites, her repertoire included The Dyer's Wife in the Met's first-ever performances of Die Frau ohne Schatten, the title role and later the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier, Klytemnestra in Elektra, Ortrud in Lohengrin, Brangäne inTristan und Isolde, Fricka in both Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, Waltraute in Götterdämmerung, Kundry in Parsifal, the title role in Fidelio, Didon in Les Troyens, Charlotte in Werther, and Amneris in Aida. She first appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1969 as Amneris in Aida. As Ludwig's voice matured, she expanded her repertoire from lyric and spinto mezzo-roles to dramatic roles. Her vast repertory eventually grew to encompass Princess Eboli in Don Carlo which she sang at La Scala in Milan, in Salzburg and in Vienna, the title-role in Carmen, Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera), Monteverdi's Octavia (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Dido (Les Troyens), Kundry (Parsifal), Klytemnestra (Elektra) and contemporary roles by von Einem and Orff. She also ventured briefly into the spinto and dramatic soprano repertory with performances of Verdi's Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Strauss's Dyer's Wife (Die Frau ohne Schatten), the Marschallin (Der Rosenkavalier) and Beethoven's Leonore (Fidelio). In addition to her opera performances, Ludwig regularly gave recitals of Lieder (together with the German pianist Sebastian Peschko and on occasion, Leonard Bernstein) and as a soloist with orchestras. Her performances of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Mahler and Strauss are much admired. She also sang Bach and performed and recorded most of his major vocal works.
Lyrics & English Translation
I saw the child on its mother's breast,
its first lisping still laughs in my ear;
though sad at heart,
how Heart's Sorrow also laughed,
that in her grief the apple of her eye
should cry for joy!
She fondly lulled to sleep with caresses
the babe cradled gently on soft moss;
with anxious care a mother's yearning
guarded its sleep,
and the hot dew of a mother's tears
woke it at morn.
She was all mourning, child of sorrow,
for your father's love and death.
To shield you from like peril
she deemed it her highest duty's task.
She strove to hide and shelter you safe
afar from weapons and from men's strife and fury.
She was all concern and foreboding
lest you should ever acquire knowledge.
Do you not still hear her cry of distress
when you roamed late and far?
Oh! How great was her joy and laughter
when she sought and found you again;
when her arms clasped you tight
did you perhaps fear her kisses?
But you did not consider her woe,
her desperate grief,
when you finally did not return
and left no trace behind!
She waited night and day
till her laments grew faint,
grief consumed her pain
and she craved for death's release:
her sorrow broke her heart,
and Heart's Sorrow died.
A link to this wonderful artists personal website: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/christ...
Please Enjoy!
I send my kind and warm regards,
Christa Ludwig: Wagner - Parsifal, 'Ich sah das Kind' official secrets | |
| 22 Likes | 22 Dislikes |
| 3,053 views views | 9.79K followers |
| Music | Upload TimePublished on 1 Apr 2015 |
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét