Aber abseits wer ist's?

Mr. Holger Schmitt-Hallenberg posted a video of his wife, the lovely Ann Hallenberg, singing the Altrhapsodie (Alto Rhapsody) of Mr. Brahms, so I got started listening to performance after performance of this beautiful work for contralto, male chorus, and orchestra. Here is Ann's video. There are more videos and the text behind the cut.






Jessye Norman, 1990, Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti:


Christa Ludwig, 1962, Philharmonia Orchestra (London), Otto Klemperer:



Maureen Forrester, 1971, Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa:



The Rhapsody is a setting of verses from Goethe's Harzreise im Winter. 

The following is stolen from the Lied, Art Song, and Choral Texts Page.
It's a great resource.  Go there and support them with your donations.

Aber abseits wer ist's? Aber abseits wer ist's? Im Gebüsch verliert sich der Pfad. Hinter ihm schlagen Die Sträuche zusammen, Das Gras steht wieder auf, Die Öde verschlingt ihn. Ach, wer heilet die Schmerzen Des, dem Balsam zu Gift ward? Der sich Menschenhaß Aus der Fülle der Liebe trank? Erst verachtet, nun ein Verächter, Zehrt er heimlich auf Seinen eigenen Wert In ungenugender Selbstsucht. Ist auf deinem Psalter, Vater der Liebe, ein Ton Seinem Ohre vernehmlich, So erquicke sein Herz! Öffne den umwölkten Blick Über die tausend Quellen Neben dem Durstenden In der Wüste!

Alto Rhapsody But who is that apart? In the underbrush his path loses itself. Behind him The shrubs clap together, The grass stands up again, The wasteland engulfs him. Ah, who heals the pains Of him, for whom balsam became poison? Who drank hatred of Man Out of the fullness of love? First despised, now a despiser, He furtively consumes His own merit In unsatisfying egotism. If there is in Thy Psalter, Father of love, one note To his ear audible, Then refresh his heart! Open his clouded gaze To the thousand springs Next to the thirsting one In the desert! English version © Lena Platt and David Platt