English translation of Venetianisches Gondellied

by Hans Sommer (1837 - 1922), "Venetianisches Gondellied", op. 10 no. 2 (1885/86), published 1886 [ medium voice and piano ], from Aus dem Süden, no. 2, Braunschweig, Litolff

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Wenn durch die Piazetta
Die Abendluft weht,
So weißt du, Ninetta,
Wer wartend dort steht.
Du weißt, wer trotz Schleier
Und Maske dich kennt,
Du weisst, wie die Sehnsucht 
Im Herzen hier brennt.

Ein Schifferkleid trag' ich
Zur selbigen Zeit,
Und zitternd dir sag' ich:
„Das Boot ist bereit!
O, komm’! jetzt, wo Lune’n
Noch Wolken umziehn,
Laß durch die Lagunen,
Geliebte uns fliehn!“

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Confirmed with Ferdinand Freiligrath's sämmtliche Werke, Dritter Band, New-York: Verlag von Friedrich Gerhard, 1858, page 326.


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

Wenn leuchtend der Mond schon
In silberner Pracht
Am Himmelszelt strahlend
Entgegen dir lacht,
Denn harrend am Ufer
Dein Liebster schon weilt,
O denke die glückliche
Stunde enteilt.

Mit Mantel und Zither
Ist er schon am Ort,
Sein Sang dir verkündet:
Dein Trauter ist dort;
O komm jetzt, o komm jetzt
Nicht immer wie heut,
Nicht immer wie heut
Ist das Boot schnell bereit.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
Author(s): Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
When through the piazzetta 
blows the cool night air
Then, darling Ninetta, 
I'll come to you there.

Beneath your mask, hiding, 
I'll know you from afar
(2) As love knows, tho' clouding 
its own evening star.

I'll masquerade for you 
as a fair Gondolier,
And whisper, trembling --  
"Our boat, love, is near!"

Now come, under cover 
of the clouds by the moon ...
Now come, fly with me, 
o'er the silent Lagoon.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Shula Keller, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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When the shining moon already
In silvery splendour
In the heavens beamingly
Smiles at you,
Then upon the shore
Your beloved already waits anxiously,
Oh realize that the happy
Hour is passing rapidly away.

With mantle and zither
He is already present,
His singing announces to you
That your trusted lover is there;
Oh come now, oh come now,
Not always as it is today,
Not always as it is today
Shall the boat be ready so quickly.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Shula Keller