One of the greatest lyrical tenors of the last century, Richard Tauber, singing 'Let me awaken your heart', a lovely song for which he composed the music.
The song was written for, and dedicated to Joseph Schmidt, who first sang it (to the original German words) in a concert in Vienna on 22 January 1935, with Tauber conducting. The audience went wild and the song was encored. Tauber recorded it with Schmidt in Vienna a few months later, and the English words were provided by Clifford Gray for the film 'Heart's Desire' from which this clip is taken.
Richard was my fathers favourite singer . Dad said Richard had great power and yet great emotion in his voice . I agree. Dad had many of Richard's recordings and dad would play them often.
He was my dad;s favourite too. At family get togethers when we have singing round the piano my dad's party piece was to sing something from Tauber. Even now more than thirty years after my dad died hearing Tauber sing will bring a tear to my eye.
As the magnificent singer, great interpreter and skilled composer Richard Tauber was, he probably awakened hearts galore… with his music and his voice… ❤️🌹❤️ Thank you for this wonderful post! 🙏🍀 (The song‘s original German title is „Weißt du, was schön wär‘“ - just in case someone doesn‘t know but is interested…)
There seems to be a good deal of speed variation when different artists play this piece. Some play it very fast and metronomic. Others much slower with a great deal of speed variation. I can't make up my mind which I prefer. This artist plays it very well however.
Thanks for your comment, Graham. I suppose every singer has their own thoughts about how to interpret a song. I do think Richard Tauber was one of the great lyric tenors and the song here is exquisite. Beautiful melody, well sung, as you say.
As Tauber wrote the song, I think we can we can assume the tempo is what he envisaged. He adopts the same tempo for Josef Schmidt (in German), the first recording of the song.
The song was written for, and dedicated to Joseph Schmidt, who first sang it (to the original German words) in a concert in Vienna on 22 January 1935, with Tauber conducting. The audience went wild and the song was encored. Tauber recorded it with Schmidt in Vienna a few months later, and the English words were provided by Clifford Gray for the film 'Heart's Desire' from which this clip is taken.
Magnificent -what a truly great voice,personality and artist the like of whom we will never hear again. God Bless the unique Richard Tauber.
How true, Lawrence. What a glorious lyrical voice! UNIQUE! GLORIOUS!
How beautiful this performance is. I’m sure Schumann would have strongly approved!
Richard was my fathers favourite singer . Dad said Richard had great power and yet great emotion in his voice . I agree.
Dad had many of Richard's recordings and dad would play them often.
He was my dad;s favourite too. At family get togethers when we have singing round the piano my dad's party piece was to sing something from Tauber. Even now more than thirty years after my dad died hearing Tauber sing will bring a tear to my eye.
What a voice!
The Greatest Singer ever RKC
As the magnificent singer, great interpreter and skilled composer Richard Tauber was, he probably awakened hearts galore… with his music and his voice… ❤️🌹❤️
Thank you for this wonderful post! 🙏🍀
(The song‘s original German title is „Weißt du, was schön wär‘“ - just in case someone doesn‘t know but is interested…)
There seems to be a good deal of speed variation when different artists play this piece. Some play it very fast and metronomic. Others much slower with a great deal of speed variation. I can't make up my mind which I prefer. This artist plays it very well however.
Thanks for your comment, Graham. I suppose every singer has their own thoughts about how to interpret a song. I do think Richard Tauber was one of the great lyric tenors and the song here is exquisite. Beautiful melody, well sung, as you say.
As Tauber wrote the song, I think we can we can assume the tempo is what he envisaged. He adopts the same tempo for Josef Schmidt (in German), the first recording of the song.