If Mozart's Papagano had been a rat catcher and not a bird catcher, he would have been Schubert's "Der Rattenfänger" (The Rat catcher) (D. 255). Composed in August 1815 to a three-verse poem by Goethe based on the legend of the Pied-Piper of Hamlin, Schubert's rat catcher is a character out of a Singspiel, a jolly fellow who sings his major-keyed melody in a strophic setting of no special depth, but a great deal of charm. Unfortunately for Schubert's rat catcher, Hugo Wolf set the same text in 1889 and his seductive and even diabolical rat catcher is one of the few cases where Wolf clearly outclasses Schubert.

James Leonard (allmusic.com)



Der Rattenfänger

Ich bin der wohlbekannte Sänger,
Der vielgereiste Rattenfänger,
Den diese altberühmte Stadt
Gewiß besonders nötig hat.
Und wären's Ratten noch so viele,
Und wären Wiesel mit im Spiele,
Von allen säubr' ich diesen Ort,
Sie müssen miteinander fort.

Dann ist der gut gelaunte Sänger
Mitunter auch ein Kinderfänger,
Der selbst die wildesten bezwingt,
Wenn er die goldnen Märchen singt.
Und wären Knaben noch so trutzig,
Und wären Mädchen noch so stutzig,
In meine Saiten greif ich ein,
Sie müssen alle hinterdrein.

Dann ist der vielgewandte Sänger
Gelegentlich ein Mädchenfänger;
In keinem Städtchen langt er an,
Wo er's nicht mancher angetan.
Und wären Mädchen noch so blöde,
Und wären Weiber noch so spröde,
Doch allen wird so liebebang
Bei Zaubersaiten und Gesang.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)



The rat-catcher

I am the well-known singer,
the widely-travelled rat-catcher,
of whom this old, famous city
certainly has an especial need.
And even if the rats are very numerous,
and even if there are weasels in the picture,
of each and every one I'll clear this place;
they must all go away.

Then also, this well-disposed singer
is from time to time a child-catcher,
who can capture even the wildest
when he sings golden fairy tales.
And even if the boys are defiant,
and even if the girls are startled,
I pluck my strings
and each and every one must follow.

Then also, this many-skilled singer
occasionally is a maiden-catcher;
in no town does he stay
where he does not bewitch many.
And even if the maidens are shy,
and even if the women are prim,
each and every one becomes lovestruck
from his magical strings and songs.

Translation by Emily Ezust



Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Gerald Moore (piano)




James Leonard allmusic.com

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