William Wu (吳文修) sings "Mein lieber Schwan (我親愛的天鵝)" from "Lohengrin" by Wagner. Berlin, 1983.

Maestro William Wu (吳文修教授, 1935-2009) was a primo dramatic tenor of the National Opera House in Berlin during 1973-79. His biography has been included in Who’s Who in Opera, The New York Times, since 1976, where he was further selected as one of the 50 leading classical singers in the world. His outstanding performance as Radames in Verdi’s Aida in Tokyo won him the 1984 Vienna World Opera Award. His faultless vocalization is mainly based upon anatomic physiology and modern sound science fascinating with uniquely perfect high notes and solid middle register. It is the profound feelings in the every note he sings that is particularly touching. Among his numerous students in Taiwan and Japan, baritone Te-Tsung Hsu (許徳崇) is one of the best and tenor Yun-Seng Giang (姜雲生) used to receive the most care.

For more nice-listening singing of Maestro William Wu, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/312817434432486

[Synopsis of “Mein lieber Schwan” from “Lohengrinn” by Wagner]

In the Act 3 of Wagner’s Lohengrin, since Elsa has broken her promise of not revealing Lohengrin’s identity, the latter must return home.

As Lohengrin sadly bids farewell to Elsa, the swan-boat reappears. Lohengrin tells Elsa that if she had kept her promise, she could have recovered her lost brother, and gives her his sword, horn and ring, for he is to become the future leader of Brabant. As Lohengrin tries to get in the boat, Elsa is told that the swan is actually Gottfried, her brother, whom she cursed to become a swan. Lohengrin prays and the swan turns back into young Gottfried. Lohengrin declares him the Duke of Brabant.

A dove descends from heaven and, taking the place of the swan at the head of the boat, leads Lohengrin to the castle of the Holy Grail. A grief-stricken Elsa falls to the ground dead.

[華格納樂劇《羅恩格林》中的男高音詠嘆調「我親愛的天鵝」的劇情概要]

在華格納的《羅恩格林》第三幕中，由於愛爾莎違背了不透露羅恩格林身份的承諾，羅恩格林必須返回天家。

當羅恩格林悲傷地告別愛爾莎時，天鵝船又出現了。羅恩格林告訴愛爾莎，假如她信守諾言，她不但能找回失去的弟弟，還可得到他的劍、號角和戒指，因為他將成為布拉班特未來的領袖。當羅恩格林要上船時，愛爾莎被告知這隻天鵝其實是她的弟弟戈特弗里德，是她詛咒他變成了天鵝。羅恩格林祈禱後，天鵝果真變回年輕的戈特弗里德。羅恩格林宣布他為布拉班特公爵。

一隻鴿子從天而降，取代了船頭的天鵝，帶著羅恩格林飛往聖杯城堡。悲痛欲絕的愛爾莎倒地身亡。

[German lyrics of “Mein lieber Schwan” from “Lohengrinn” by Wagner]

ELSA
Entsetzlich! Ha, der Schwan!

LOHENGRIN
Schon sendet nach dem Säumigen der Gral!

Mein lieber Schwan! -
Ach, diese letzte, traur'ge Fahrt, wie gern hätt' ich sie dir erspart!
In einem Jahr, wenn deine Zeit
im Dienst zu Ende sollte gehn, -
dann durch des Grales Macht befreit,
wollt ich dich anders wiedersehn!
O Elsa! Nur ein Jahr an deiner Seite
hätt ich als Zeuge deines Glücks ersehnt!
Dann kehrte, selig in des Grals Geleite,
dein Bruder wieder, den du tot gewähnt. -

Kommt er dann heim, wenn ich ihm fern im Leben,
dies Horn, dies Schwert, den Ring sollst du ihm geben.
Dies Horn soll in Gefahr ihm Hilfe schenken,
in wildem Kampf dies Schwert ihm Sieg verleiht;
doch bei dem Ringe soll er mein gedenken,
der einst auch dich aus Schmach und Not befreit!
(Während er Elsa, die keines Ausdrucks mächtig ist, wiederholt küsst)
Leb wohl! Leb wohl! Leb wohl, mein süsses Weib!
Leb wohl! Mir zürnt der Gral, wenn ich noch bleib!

[English translation of the lyrics of “Mein lieber Schwan” from “Lohengrinn” by Wagner]

ELSA
O horror! Ah, the swan!

LOHENGRIN
The Grail sends for the one who is late in returning!

My dear swan!
Ah, how gladly I would have spared you this last, sad journey!
At the end of a year
your time of service would have come to an end -
then, freed by the power of the Grail,
you would have appeared to me in a different form!
(Wracked with grief, he turns back to Elsa, who is standing in the foreground)
O Elsa! I had longed to witness
just one year of happiness by your side!
Then your brother, whom you thought dead, would have returned,
accompanied by the blessed retinue of the Grail!
(All express their astonishment)

LOHENGRIN
(hands Elsa his horn, his sword and his ring)
When he comes home, I shall be far away;
give him this horn, this sword and this ring.
The horn shall bring him soccour in danger,
the sword shall bring him victory in wild battle;
but the ring shall remind him of me,
who once freed you too from shame and need!
(He repeatedly kisses Elsa, who is incapable of speech)
Farewell! Farewell! Farewell, my sweet wife!
Farewell! The Grail will be angry with me if I stay longer!
(Elsa has been clinging desperately to Lohengrin; finally she loses her strength and sinks into the arms of the women; Lohengrin leaves her with them and hurries over to the river bank)

[華格納樂劇《羅恩格林》中的男高音詠嘆調「我親愛的天鵝」的歌詞中譯]

愛爾莎
(恍惚中醒來，從座位上坐起，望向河岸)
噢，恐怖！ 啊，天鵝！

羅恩格林
（感動）
聖杯派人去找遲到的人！
(當他走到岸邊時，每個人都緊張地期待著；他向天鵝彎下腰，若有所思地看著牠）
我親愛的天鵝！
啊，我原本很高興能讓你免去這最後一段悲傷的旅程！
年底時
你的服務時間就結束了—
然後被聖杯的力量解放，
你會以不同的形式出現在我面前！
(他悲痛地轉身面向站在前面的愛爾莎）
噢，愛爾莎！我曾經渴望見證
在妳身邊幸福的一年！
而妳以為已死的弟弟也會回來，
有著聖杯祝聖的家人的陪伴！
（眾人紛紛表示驚訝）

羅恩格林
(把他的號角、劍和戒指遞給愛爾莎)
當他回來時，我將已遠離；
給他這號角、這把劍和這枚戒指。
號角將解救他於危險，
劍將為他帶來狂野戰鬥的勝利；
而戒指會讓他想起我，
我也曾經把妳從羞恥和需求中解放出來！
(他反覆親吻無語的愛爾莎)
再見，我親愛的妻子！
再見！如果我再待久一點，聖杯可要生氣了！
(愛爾莎一直死抱著羅恩格林，最後失去力氣，倒在婦女們的懷裡；羅恩格林丟下她，匆匆跑到河邊）