Metamorfoses

"Strauss’s biographer, Norman del Mar has also noted that during the worst years of the war, Strauss immersed himself in rereading the complete works of Goethe, a long quotation from whose self-analytical late poem, “Niemand wird sich Selber kennen,” (no one can really know himself), Strauss copied into the manuscript of Metamorphosen. Yet another metamorphosis, of course, is that of the icons of German culture, polluted by the Nazis and destroyed by Allied bombers. Strauss’ letters during the composition of Metamorphosen attest to his despair at each new wave of destruction." (daqui)



(daqui)

os contrabaixistas posaram para a fotografia esta noite. durante um instante fez-se silêncio, quebrado logo que a mulher baixou a câmara. em Strauss, nascer e morrer num acto único, metamorfose. por alguma razão lembrei-me de Der Tod und das Mädchen, esta de Schubert, a partir do poema de Matthias Claudius.

The Maiden:
Pass me by! Oh, pass me by!
Go, fierce man of bones!
I am still young! Go, rather,
And do not touch me.
And do not touch me.

Death:
Give me your hand, you beautiful and tender form!
I am a friend, and come not to punish.
Be of good cheer! I am not fierce,
Softly shall you sleep in my arms!