Was Du Mir Bist: Erich Korngold - Drei Lieder, Op. 22 - Jessica Leschnikoff

"Was Du Mir Bist?" - What Are You To Me?
Lyrics: Eleonore van der Straaten
Music: Erich Korngold - Drei Lieder, Op. 22

Soprano - Jessica Leschnikoff
Piano - Victoria Vasilenko

The performance was part of the opening night concert program "Days of Asparuh Leschnikoff 2022", recorded live at Haskovo City Theatre

Director and postproduction - Nikolay Skerlev
Sound Engineering & Mastering - Lenko Draganov
(C) Jessica Leschnikoff 2022

Lyrics

Deutsch:
Was du mir bist?
Der Ausblick in ein schönes Land,
Wo fruchtbelad’ne Bäume ragen,
Blumen blühn’ am Quellenrand.
Was du mir bist?
Der Stern’ Funkeln,
das Gewölk durchbricht,
Der ferne Lichtstrahl,
der im Dunkeln spricht:
O Wand’rer, verzage nicht!
Und war mein Leben auch Entsagen,
glänzte mir kein froh Geschick,
Was dur mir bist? Kannst du noch fragen?
Was du mir bist: mein Glaube an das Glück

English
What you are to me? The view of a beautiful land,
Where rise fruit-laden trees,
Flowers bloom at the water’s edge.
What you are to me? The star sparkle
that breaks through the cloud,
The distant light rays, there in darkness says:
Oh Wanderer, don't despair!
And were my life one of renouncement,
Conspicuous only to me, without happy fortune,
What you are to me? Have you to ask?
What you are to me: my faith in happiness.

Jessica Leschnikoff grew up in the UK with her sister Nancy, father Simeon, her mother Ann and her Grandma, Delphine.

Jessica chose this Lied because of the pertinent text and twisting harmonies that describes glimpses of and the yearning for someone distant, lost or dreamed of - very much like the mythical figure of her much-loved grandfather, Asparuch "Ari" Leshnikov, that she never knew, and the father and husband that Simeon and Delphine missed so dearly all their lives.

Ari Leshnikov was perhaps Bulgaria's most famous Tenor, and was the lead tenor of the Comedian Harmonists, who were a group of six huge stars based in Berlin, Germany in 1920s - 1930s. The group reached international fame and great fortune at their height, famous for their perfect close harmony and ability to convey the deepest sadness to the highest humour. Sadly, the group fell foul of the Reichsmusikkammer, due to three members having Jewish ancestry, and the group and much of their recordings were outlawed by the anti-Semitic Hitler government. To be clear: whilst Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler and other high ranking Nazi officials admired and went to performances of the Comedian Harmonists, not a single member of the group ever subscribed to Nazi politics or expressed anything but love and loyalty to Jewish friends, colleagues and associates.

Posted with many thanks to:

The people of Haskovo who made Jessica feels so very welcome
Viktoria Vassilenko - Piano
Gocho Prakov* - Clarinet, and for convening all fabulous musicians
Atanas Krastev* - Cello
Rumen Boyadzhiev - Arrangements
Theatre staff at ДРАМАТИЧНО-КУКЛЕН ТЕАТЪР „ИВАН ДИМОВ“
Nikolay Skerlev - Director and postproduction
Lenko Draganov - Sound Engineering & Mastering
Dr Vesselina Uzunova - for hosting, coordinating, and researching for the associated exhibition of Asparuch Leshnikov at Haskovo Museum of History: http://haskovomuseum.com/
Prof. Georgi Petkov, Baritone
Mayor & Deputy Mayor of Haskovo Municipality
German Embassy to Bulgaria
ASA Boutique Hotel, Haskovo - providing accommodation and hospitality to Jessica: http://www.asa-hotel.com/

*see other videos from same performance

For more information:

Erich Korngold - http://www.korngold.com/

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