Kathleen Ferrier. UM MITTERNACHT. 1952. Vienna Philharmonic

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This is the third of Mahler's three Ruckert songs, recorded in Vienna with Bruno Walter. By mid 1952 she was realising there would be no recovery from her illness, and these series of recordings are sung with great feeling and from the heart. The last few minutes, as it rises to a crescendo-"At Midnight I felt a single pang of pain, at Midnight". Almost unbearably moving, knowing the circumstances, and pain, in which the recordings were made. When Kathleen and Bruno Walter parted, following a full range of recordings in 1952they knew instinctively they would never meet again. Walter introduced her to the Mahler and Brahm's repertoire, and could not praise her enough. Walter had been a pupil, and friend of Mahler. It was the collaboration between Kathleen and Walter which re-ignited the interest in Mahler in the post Second World War period, and which continues to the present time. Um Mitternacht Hab' ich gewacht Und aufgeblickt zum Himmel; Kein Stern vom Sterngewimmel Hat mir gelacht Um Mitternacht. Um Mitternacht Hab' ich gedacht Hinaus in dunkle Schranken. Es hat kein Lichtgedanken Mir Trost gebracht Um Mitternacht. Um Mitternacht Nahm ich in acht Die Schläge meines Herzens; Ein einz'ger Puls des Schmerzes War angefacht Um Mitternacht. Um Mitternacht Kämpft' ich die Schlacht, O Menschheit, deiner Leiden; Nicht konnt' ich sie entscheiden Mit meiner Macht Um Mitternacht. Um Mitternacht Hab' ich die Macht In deine Hand gegeben! Herr! über Tod und Leben Du hältst die Wacht Um Mitternacht! At midnight Language: English At midnight I awoke and gazed up to heaven; No star in the entire mass did smile down at me at midnight. At midnight I projected my thoughts out past the dark barriers. No thought of light brought me comfort at midnight. At midnight I paid close attention to the beating of my heart; One single pulse of agony flared up at midnight. At midnight I fought the battle, o Mankind, of your suffering; I could not decide it with my strength at midnight. At midnight I surrendered my strength into your hands! Lord! over death and life You keep watch at midnight!

Channel: Music
Uploaded: July 14, 2007 at 4:53 am
Author: lochness11

Length: 0:06:27
Rating: 4.96
Views: 10,179

Tags: kathleen ferrier um mitternacht mahler bruno walter ruckert songs vienna philharmonic orchestra contralto

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Video Comments:
JekyllBoote (Wednesday 30th of July 2008 10:10:57 AM)
Not a patch on Mariah Carey. Only joking!
lochness11 (Friday 6th of June 2008 05:36:51 AM)
As they say,"We will never see the likes of her ever again". A truly unique voice,pouring Mahler's pain into the microphone. In the playback room at the studio,at the end of the playback of this piece,she leaned forward,and asked Bruno Walter,the conductor, across the room:-"Was I alright Luv?" He was speechless.He had no words to express his feelings. Others in the room were also lost for words.
Lohengrin (Thursday 5th of June 2008 09:26:51 AM)
- the greatest version of this lied ever - one of the most intense exhibition of human Pain in vocal art ever - a timbre full of endless tears her voice always reminds me of Dante's lyric abou "le lagrimae rerum", the tears by which the world is made
paulostroff99 (Tuesday 6th of May 2008 06:57:42 AM)
Beautiful! Brava! TY.
Rzeczska (Sunday 20th of April 2008 12:03:10 PM)
Si Gustav Mahler avait entendue une voix aussi déchirante, aussi profonde... il eût certainement cru que l'enfant mort chante encore... et couvre d'un linceul de lumière son inconsolable désespoir, son irrémédiable peine... La seule voix qui me tire des larmes dès la première note - si tant est que les larmes signifient quelque chose, certes -
helenoftroy7 (Sunday 13th of April 2008 04:07:42 AM)
parece um homem!!!!!111 epa e tem uma voz dev homem
helenoftroy7 (Sunday 13th of April 2008 04:06:07 AM)
é ela que canta??????????????
helenoftroy7 (Sunday 13th of April 2008 04:05:34 AM)
e ela q
patrickshiatsuhotm (Thursday 27th of March 2008 04:41:23 PM)
C'est probablement la seule grande interprète qui laissa toute la place à la musique et à l'émotion qu'elle sussite. K. Ferrier chantait du plus haut d'elle même, sa voix est la Voix du ciel et des anges qui nous consolent
lochness11 (Thursday 10th of April 2008 06:20:19 AM)
patrickshiatsuhotm ------Yes, there was something both in Ferrier's voice, and the feeling she put into to that special gift.She FEELS the unfolding of Mahler's tragedy,and seemingly effortlessly conveys that to us,the listener.Superb,heartrending,unique,and almost unbearingly moving.