I have written previously about Richard Strauss on my blog as I find many of his songs to be full of romance and the beauty to be found within loving relationships. With Valentine’s Day approaching this Saturday I thought I would take the opportunity to share another of Strauss’s songs with you.
“Freundliche Vision” (a welcome vision or a friendly vision)
This was recorded last year on Valentine’s Day, February 14th 2014 in Bury Parish church accompanied by Russell Lomas.
The inspiration for this song came from a poem written by Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 – 1910). The poem was one of five works by Bierbaum that Richard Strauss set to music in 1918 for his song cycle Opus 48.
The poems/songs were:
Freundliche Vision
Ich Schwebe
Kling!
Winterweihe
Winterliebe

The songs were testaments to love; the emotions, feelings, sensations and excitement that you experience when you share your life with someone special to you.
These were the words from the original poem:
Nicht im Schlafe hab’ ich das geträumt,
Hell am Tage sah ich’s schön vor mir:
Eine Wiese voller Margeritten;
Tief ein weißes Haus in grünen Büschen;
Götterbilder leuchten aus dem Laube.
Und ich geh’ mit Einer, die mich lieb hat,
Ruhigen Gemütes in die Kühle
Dieses weißen Hauses, in den Frieden,
Der voll Schönheit wartet, daß wir kommen.
Otto Bierbaum
I found this beautiful translation of the poem into English by Constance Bache (1846 – 1903) which I hope will give you an idea of the emotion to be found in the original text.
Not in slumber did the dream arise,
But in day’s broad light I saw it all:
Just a meadow full of budding daisies,
And a sunny house half hid in foliage;
Forms divine are lurking in the thicket.
And I walk with her whose love I cherish;
Tranquillity we enjoy the coolness
Of this sheltered cottage, full of beauty,
Full of peace that waiteth on our coming.
And I go with her whom I cherish
To the peace and the beauty
Constance Bache
Constance Bache was herself a pianist and composer who studied at the Munich Conservatoire in Germany but following an injury to her right hand she returned to England and along with her teaching she translated many German and Russian songs into English.

These beautiful songs and their sentiments are a great way to lift your spirits especially as Valentine’s Day approaches. These poems paint emotive images of love between kindred spirits.
You’ve truly expressed and shared the beauty that valentine’s brings forth 🙂
Thanks Andy 😊
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for sharing Charlotte 🙂
Thanks for the translation of that beautiful poem. I sure wouldn’t have known what it said if you hadn’t. Happy Valentine’s Day!
You’re welcome I love to share my music, glad you enjoyed it.
What a charming Valentine gift! Thank you so much,sorry that I cannot reciprocate in kind… I can offer only my heartfelt appreciation.
That’s quite sufficient thanks Annette 💜 😀
Best wishes
Charlotte
A beautiful rendition and I love the Bierbaum poem. If you ever perform close to Winchester my wife and I will come and listen to you with great joy.
Thank you for your lovely message Andrew I hope you’re all settled in now 😊.
Best wishes to you and your wife,
Charlotte
Lovely pict, nice texte, wonderfull vidéo. Thanks charlotte, beautifull share. You’re a great and fabulous friend !
You’re very welcome, je t’en prie 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you for the lovely Valentine’s gift and of course, your voice!
💐 thank you 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you Charlotte and Happy Valentines Day to you, and may the Lord bless you richly.
Thank you I’m very happy in my life right now so I’m feeling very blessed.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, CH! And thank you for sharing not only this lovely song of Richard Strauss (in your Valentine Day coloured dress), but all the songs you’ve delighted us with.
Thank you very much for listening and I hope you had a super day yesterday with people you love.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A lovely song! Thank-you for the translation. I hadn’t heard of Constance Bache before – how sad for her to have to give up her playing.
Sometimes as one door closes another door opens into something just as rewarding, interesting twists and turns.
Best wishes
Charlotte
A great song for the coming weekend, and also to lift up the spirits as we enter the bleak month of February ~ you sing it so well.
‘Bleak month of February’ is pretty accurate as all my essays are due in 😀. But I enjoy writing if any of my professors are reading 😄.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wish you well on your essays…always the bleakest times for my college days as well (and wish you better luck than I had!). Cheers!
Lovely song for the Valentine’s day. I am glad you also have the translated of the poem. It is so sweet.
It was a lovely translation this one, the original one I used when learning the song was slightly different. I enjoyed your new bleeding heart post.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you Charlotte!
Lovely performance and song – thank you for sharing. Xo
Whenever I see your lovely smiley picture Janice it cheers me up, I downloaded your book too, just need more time.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte! You are so sweet. Hope you enjoy it! Hugs!
I think this is one of the best performances you have posted here, Charlotte. You sound terrific in Strauss. And that is a beautiful picture of you! I really enjoy hearing about your studies and how your career is developing.
Thank you Peter, I’ve got some new material by Strauss to learn exciting times and a very busy time ahead.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You have a pretty voice. If that makes any sense. A “guy” wrote this? Wow. It’s sweet…mushy …but sweet. Do you see what a woman can do to a man? He’s on Cloud 173. Yes, way up there and he doesn’t want to come down!
Thank you Eric, it’s nice for a man to show his feelings. I’m curious about cloud 173 do they have strawberry milkshake there, I love strawberry milkshake.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful song, and beautiful singer, well done Have a wonderful Valentine day. 😘xx
I’ve had a lovely weekend hope you did too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I thought of you on the Scotland train when I read this story 🙂
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2952285/The-performance-life-Amateur-opera-singer-stuns-passengers-rowdy-train-home-incredible-performance-Nessun-Dorma.html
Brilliant 😊. I wonder if he’s a relative of Susan Boyles the lady that made a successful career from Britain’s Got Talent. It reminded me of Joseph Calleja the operatic tenor who burst I to song on a plane https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YE9WMdX1XoE. Some of these train journeys I make are really lonnnng so you never know lol.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Nice. Strauss certainly wrote some beautiful vocal works. Have you ever sung in ‘Rosenkavalier’?
I’ve listened to it but not learnt it, I’m pacing myself as I want to learn so many pieces. It is beautiful though I agree with you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a lovely gift! You have such a beautiful beautiful voice, Charlotte!!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
It is a gift it’s great to be reminded of that it makes me treasure it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I will learn to love Strauss if you keep on singing his songs.
Please, please learn to love his music, his songs are like butter in my throat, I’ve got to pace myself but I can’t wait to learn more of his wonderful songs for soprano voice.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Reblogged this on Larger than Life Sightseeing.
Great photo! 🙂
Thank you for the reblog I appreciate it and the compliment about my header photo daisies make me feel happy 😀.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Reblogged to Google+
Thank you for the reblog 😊 on google. Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Such a beautiful song! And I am struck by the fact that you combine such immense talent with such a warm, friendly, and straightforward personality. Completely awesome!
Thank you 😊. I’ve just finished my post for tonight Dan I think you’ll like the song it’s quite jolly. My parents both smiled and started raising their shoulders in time with it 😄.
All the best
Charlotte
I do enjoy Strauss and this is so beautiful. I really appreciate the translation. 🙂
Such beautiful voice/song; beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.