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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes

Libretti

Wagner: TANNHÄUSER [Includes RealAudio Selections]

Band 3

Band 3

Act I: Shepherd Boy scene excerpt: "[Am hohen Fest der Gnad' und Huld in] Demut sühn' ich meine Schuld" ... "Der Wallfahrt wolle gün[stig] sein"

Carrie Bridewell (ms), Shepherd

Emil Gerhäuser (t), Tannhäuser

Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--Alfred

Hertz

January 17, 1903

[Glackens 47; speed matches Band 4.]

At Tannhäuser's invocation of the Virgin Mary, the Venusberg has magically vanished, and he finds himself in a valley near the Wartburg, where a shepherd is piping and singing as pilgrims pass by. (Partway through this cylinder, Mapleson seems to have been fooling around with his apparatus, and the connection between his horn and diaphragm evidently became loose, resulting in a sharp loss of level, which, however, returns towards the end.)

[original]

CHORUS

[A Roma nel solenne] dì
io vo'implorare il tuo perdon!
Beato l'uom' che ognor gioì
di questo eterno eccelso don!

SHEPHERD
Glück auf! Glück auf nach Rom!
Betet fur meine arme Seele!

TANNHÄUSER
Allmächt'ger, dir sei Preis!
Gross [ dropout begins→ ] sind die Wunder deine Gnade!

CHORUS
Eterno, eccelso Crea[ ←dropout ends ]tor,
ricorre a te lo spirto anel;
sei speme tu del peccator,
deh! volgi un guardo a noi [dal ciel.]

[translation]

CHORUS

In Rome on the holy day
I wish to implore Thy pardon!
Blessed the man who always enjoys
this eternal sublime gift!

SHEPHERD
Godspeed! Godspeed to Rome!
Pray for my poor soul!

TANNHÄUSER
Almighty, praise be Thine!
Great are the wonders of Thy grace!

CHORUS
Eternal, sublime Creator,
the panting spirit returns to Thee;
Thou art the hope of the sinner,
pray, turn Thy glance on us from heaven.