Episode 22

This week we are discussing long and short syllables in German with mezzo-soprano Tanja Baumgartner, tenor Virgil Hartinger and Uta Mücksch, a prompter at the Semperoper. The texts for today's episode are "Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen" from Der Freischütz and "Waldesgespräch", by German romantic poet Josef von Eichendorff, one of the most famous pieces from Schumann's Liederkreis Op. 39. If you are interested in Pennsylfaanich Deitsch, there is actually a Wikipedia page, both in the language and about the language. There are many different spellings and pronunciations, so it's fun to look at! Plus, tenor Kenneth Riegel commissioned a song cycle of PA Dutch poetry in 1977, entitled Songs of the Tulpehocken, from composer Stephen Douglas Burton. There is a recording of them with the Lousiville Symphony, and he also performed them in several recitals with my mother! As always, please feel free to contact me here, at the Facebook page or directly at ellen@ellenrissinger.com