"O du mein holder Abendstern" (Tannhäuser Act iii, Scene 2, Richard Wagner) sung by James Bierney

"Wie Todesahnung Dämmrung deckt die Lande............ O du, mein holder Abendstern"
Tannhäuser (Act iii, scene 2) - Richard Wagner
The wonderful accompaniment was provided by Uli Schauerte whose CZcams channel can be found here ‪@UliSchauerte‬ and website is www.uli-schauerte.de
The aria “O du, mein holder Abendstern” is sung by the character Wolfram at the opening of the second scene in Act III. Elisabeth, who loves Tannhäuser, pleads with passing pilgrims for news of him but is unable to learn anything. Wolfram, on the other hand, loves her faithfully from afar and offers to escort her back to the Wartburg, but she motions him to be still, and gestures that she is grateful for his devotion but her path leads to heaven. She slowly makes her way up the path alone. He senses her impending death and sings to the evening star (Abendstern) to protect her.
Wolfram:
Wie Todesahnung Dämmrung deckt die Lande,
umhüllt das Tal mit schwärzlichem Gewande;
der Seele, die nach jenen Höhn verlangt,
vor ihrem Flug durch Nacht und Grausen bangt.
Da scheinest du, o lieblichster der Sterne,
dein sanftes Licht entsendest du der Ferne;
die nächt’ge Dämmrung teilt dein lieber Strahl,
und freundlich zeigst du den Weg aus dem Tal.
O du, mein holder Abendstern,
wohl grüsst’ ich immer dich so gern:
vom Herzen, das sie nie verriet,
grüsse sie, wenn sie vorbei dir zieht,
wenn sie entschwebt dem Tal der Erden,
ein sel’ger Engel dort zu werden!
Like foreboding of death,
Dusk veils the land;
It covers the valley
with swarthy raiment.
The soul, which aspires to lofty heights,
Is made uneasy in the face of its flight
Through darkness and horror.
There you shine,
Oh loveliest of stars;
you send forth your gentle light from afar.
You, dear ray, part the gloomy dusk;
And, kind-heartedly,
You point the way out of the valley.
Oh you, my lovely evening star,
I have always greeted you so gladly.
From the heart which she never betrayed
Greet her, when she passes by you,
When she hovers over the valley of earth,
To become, yonder, a blessed angel!