Unpublished Lehmann poetry discovered in the Special Collections at UCSB
Lehmann’s poetry from her 1969 book Gedichte
Lehmann’s poetry from the 1923 book Verse in Prosa
Below are various Lehmann poems from random sources
From December 3, 1932
| Es klingt ein starker Klang in mir, ein süsses, wundersames Lied. Das mich mit weicher linder Hand In weite, weite Ferne zieht. Durch meiner Nächte Träume schwebt der mir ein hohes Ziel verheisst, der meine Tage jauchzend macht und sonnenwärts mich siegend reisst. | There is a strong sonority within me, a sweet, wondrous song. That draws me far, far away with a soft, gentle hand. Through my night’s dreams floats the one element that promises me a high goal, that makes my days rejoicing and snatches me triumphantly towards the sun. |
[Here is a second translation of In Alten Partituren]
| Today I have read old musical scores – And, suddenly, the past crashes into my present… O colorful beauty which was once mine – O life, fatefully renewed In fleeting time, removed from the world! The delight of transformation – who can conceive of it Who live only ONE life which is limited by reality? He, who never knows this sweet self-forgetting. This self-squandering to time, When the self dissolves in singing – Living and suffering – hovering as if on wings In a foreign, peculiarly personal fate – Hovering on the wings of Music! |
Here’s an English translation of Lehmann’s poem “Dreiklang” or “Triad” by Judith Sutcliffe
A late Lehmann poem with a translation by Beaumont Glass
| Vergessen gibt, Ich glaube, eines Engels Hand, Denn abgewandt Sind wir von dem was einst gewesen. Genesen von vielen Menschenleben Müssen, im Aufwärtsstreben, Auf’s Neu’ und Aberneue wir ersteh’n, Bis wir verweh’n In jenem Morgenrot, Das golden in mein Fenster loht — Im Wind — in Meereswogen — Im Sternenstrahl — im Regenbogen — Im Lächeln Gottes, das du leuchten siehst, Wenn Abendgold im Meer zerfliesst. | Perhaps it is an angel’s hand That grants oblivion; For we are turned aside From what has been before. Though healed from many human lives, We must be born, and ever born again, Until we fade away Into that golden dawn That now is glowing through my window, One with the wind — the waves — The starlight — and the rainbow — One with the smile of God, That lights the sky When golden sunsets melt into the sea. |
The following pages are from the recital program of Thomas Pasatieri’s cycle based on Lehmann’s poems. They are from Lehmann’s 1969 book Gedichte and will be found (in a different order and with different translations at Lehmann’s poetry from her 1969 book Gedichte.
Finally, for those who always assume Lotte Lehmann was serious and or profound, here’s something silly. As always, it’s difficult to translate humor, so my English version is just an attempt at joking around. In the German version Lehmann uses some English idioms that she writes in German. For example she writes that her singing is “going to the dogs” and you’ll see that her dogs are the focus of the poem. Note that the penultimate line (in German) rhymes with her name which she signs below. And you should know that when she sent this poem she included the following photos of her dogs in operatic dress.
Of course, it is quite understandable:
You have incessantly received
Letters from highly enthusiastic people,
Who’ve mastered
In long, hated vocalizing
From extremely crummy voices,
To train new Carusos and new Flagstadts,
Which in their wild fire-filled performances sing gloriously
And conquer every audience.
In short: those who teach singing
Want to grace the Metropolitan
With their immensely brilliant mob of students.
Oh what a throng
Of incredible singing geniuses!!!
I feel somewhat uneasy in my stomach
When I think back to when I myself began
To teach… When
I’d brawl with other teachers
And ambitiously trembling, shaking, panting:
“This one, oh happy world, experience
This is the true Caruso-tone resurrected…”
I already feel
The bliss that must delight the teacher,
If he wants to be happy,
Helping the students succeed…
My singing,
I must admit to myself,
Is soon going to the dogs anyway…
That’s why I’ve made a lot of effort to train
My highly talented dog as one of my student-singers.
And honestly:
Confident in the future rosy distance
I look up at this star
That will shine on the Metropolitan…
Just take a look
These expressive role models!
Was Mimi ever sweeter and gentler?
Isn’t Tosca full of seduction?
And don’t you feel deep emotion
When you look at Elisabeth?
Made
My eyes tremble, ever,
Like this Marschallin, sweet and devoted,
With longing, anxious love glance???
I lay the fate
Of this highly gifted student now in your hands
And wait for the return
Mail for the contract. Consider
This attraction!!!
This genius will not give himself away…
Because you know: I’m doing business here…
You have to pay a lot…Oh, I’m very shrewd!!!
However, my student is so good
That now the Met with cheerful courage
Can see into the future…
How beautiful!!!
This thought will sweeten
The rest of my vacation. With best regards
To everyone – I am, which you can understand –
One who has never been so proud as now
Lotte Lehmann