ORR232_ Book.qxd

Pauline Viardot
Poem by Richard Pohl
‘Allein’ (Alone) [CD 2 Track 11]
(pub. 1871)
ANNA CATERINA ANTONACCI
VIARDOT SET several poems by the critic, novelist and composer Richard
Pohl (1826-1896). A colleague of Schumann’s (he helped the composer to
prepare the concert version of Manfred), in Dresden Pohl wrote under the
pseudonym ‘Hoplit’, and was one of the first to champion the music of
Wagner. Later based in Weimar, his enthusiasm for Liszt and Berlioz, as well
as Wagner, led to his friendship with all three composers. Pohl knew Viardot
well, and wrote about her appearances in Germany. In her turn, because of her
friendship with Schumann (who dedicated his Liederkreis Op. 24 to her), and
later Brahms, she had a wide knowledge of the German Lied. She was one of
the first singers to advocate the idea of a Lieder recital as we know it today,
although it would not be until a generation later that the fashion for this
spread beyond Germany and Austria.
Still schau ich in die Nacht hinaus, Quietly I look out into the night
Wohin er nun gegangen, to where he is now gone,
Und blick hinauf zum Vaterhaus and glance up to my father’s house
In meines Herzens Bangen. in my heart’s distress.
Jetzt schlummert er in weiter Welt, Right now he is asleep out in the wide world
Von Gottes Aug’ bewacht, watched over by God.
–87–