Zemlinsky's counterpart to Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" is his
"Lyrische Symphonie" (Lyric Symphony), Op. 18 (1922/23). Composed during
his tenure as the music director of the New German Theatre in Prague,
Zemlinsky composed less
during these years than at other times in his creative life, but what he did
compose was very significant: the operas Eine fiorentinische
Tragödie (A Florentine Tragedy), Der Zwerg (The Dwarf), and this Lyric
Symphony.
While Mahler is recognized for his lavish compositions, Zemlinsky takes the Lyric Symphony to new heights, exhibiting a hyper-Romanticism that verges on Schoenbergian Expressionism.
In contrast to Mahler's use of German translations of ancient Chinese texts, Zemlinsky opts for words by Rabindranath Tagore, translated into German by Hans Effenberger. The first song, "Ich bin friedlos, ich bin durstig nach fernen Dingen" (I am restless. I am athirst for far-away things), resonates with a certain Orientalism in its harmonies, set within the concentrated scoring of late-Austro-Germanic Romanticism. Unlike Mahler's externalized horror, Zemlinsky internalizes a sense of dread that pervades the entire song at a profound level.
The second movement, reminiscent of a Schoenbergian Scherzo, features "O Mutter, der junge Prinz" ("O mother, the young Prince"), portraying the excitement surrounding the visit of a young prince to a song girl.
The third movement, sung by the baritone, titled "Du bist die Abendwolke" (You are the evening cloud), showcases Zemlinsky's perfumed and intoxicating musical style. Alban Berg quoted this movement in his "Lyric Suite" for string quartet. Listen how Zemlinsky creates the most miraculous contrapuntal webs in the orchestra (some lovely horn solos along the way, too; and, also like Mahler, Zemlinsky makes fine use of a solo violin.
In contrast, the mysterious and meandering fourth movement, "Sprich zu mir Geliebter" (Speak to me, my love), delves into Expressionist territory, featuring a vocal line that approaches Sprechstimme, reminiscent of Berg's reflective moments in "Wozzeck."
The short fifth movement, "Befrei mich von den Banden deiner Süße, Lieb" (Release me from the bonds of your sweetness, Love), opens with a post-Mahlerian Urschrei, followed by the voice railing against snippets of a frightful march.
The sixth song briefly returns to tenderness before the bleakness of the text takes hold: "Vollende denn das letzte Lied" (Then finish the last song), with Zemlinsky employing sparse scoring.
The seventh and final movement, "Friede, mein Herz" (Peace, my heart), goes beyond Mahler with an overarching sense of transcendence in true Zemlinsky style.
Text.
Listen to: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Liebreich – conductor
Johanna Winkel – soprano, Adam Plachetka – bass baritone.