A live performance of "Let me enjoy the Earth" by Finzi from my Final Recital at Birmingham Conservatoire on 20th May 2014.

This is one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite composers with beautiful text by Thomas Hardy. It comes from the song cycle "Till Earth Outwears"

Voice: Christopher Griksaitis
Piano: Jon French

Final Recital

Let me enjoy the Earth

Spring Sorrow
Composer: John Ireland
Performed by: Christopher Griksaitis

Spring is finally around the corner, and jumping straight back into music, this is the perfect song to represent how I've been feeling lately. Winter and the Sorrow might feel like they will never end, but spring always comes around and your heart will eventually heal.

Spring Sorrow (John Ireland)

Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen by Gustav Mahler.
Performed by Christopher Griksaitis

I am going to Germany this week for a friend's wedding and it got me thinking about how my experience with Germany began. About 7 or 8 year ago, I spoke no German at all, but when I started learning this song, I found the text by Friedrich Rückert so incredible that I decided to learn the language. 

Learning German lead me to living in Berlin for over a year and meeting many incredible people. It's a great example of the impact that music and songs can have on your life.

I'll be posting a new song here every Tuesday so feel free to subscribe and follow me on social media if you liked it to see more updates.

German Text: (English translation below)

Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen,
Mit der ich sonst viele Zeit verdorben,
Sie hat so lange nichts von mir vernommen,
Sie mag wohl glauben, ich sei gestorben!

Es ist mir auch gar nichts daran gelegen,
Ob sie mich für gestorben hält,
Ich kann auch gar nichts sagen dagegen,
Denn wirklich bin ich gestorben der Welt.

Ich bin gestorben dem Weltgetümmel,
Und ruh’ in einem stillen Gebiet!
Ich leb’ allein in meinem Himmel,
In meinem Lieben, in meinem Lied!

English translation:

I am lost to the world
With which I used to waste much time
It hasn't heard anything from me for so long,
It may really believe that I am dead.

I don't care at all
If it thinks that I am dead.
I also can't deny it,
Since I really am dead to the world.

I am dead to the world’s turmoil,
And rest in a quiet realm!
I live alone in my heaven,
In my love, in my song!

Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

Christopher Griksaitis is an international lyric tenor.