Another Outing with our Professor Stern, Food for Mind and Soul
Catherine the Great
Friday morning, as we entered our classroom, here was our beloved Professor, Dr. Stern, big greeting and big smile. As we all got situated by our Pults (desks), he informed us that he has an evening planned for Saturday. Our tickets and paperwork were in an envelope right on our desks. “No cheating please”, said Dr. Stern, “we will have our lecture first and then look”.
This day was the continuation of our lessons about literature, art, and the cultural differences of our neighbor country Mother Russia in the 18th century. The main character in this study was Catherine The Great, Empress of Russia. Her momentous influence on expanding Russia’s borders well into Central Europe. She was Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, born May 2nd 1729 in Stettin, then part of the Prussian Empire, now it is Poland.
She was the daughter of a German Prince. She became Catherine II, Empress of Russia and she reigned for over 30 years. She was the Empress, who invited German citicens to come to Russia and settle the land along the River Volga and in Siberia.
These German settlers, called Volga Germans dealt with harsh and stressful lives. We had learned in previous lectures, how these Germans came to be in a settlement in southeastern Russia. We learned all about their desperation, wanting to return to their homeland. I remember hearing that beautiful song, very sad and it touched our hearts, called “Das Wolga Lied” the Volga Song, the music by Franz Lehàr composer, born in Hungary now it is Slovakia. The music is touching and beautiful, I always cry.
Das Wolga Lied:
Hast Du dort oben vergessen auch mich,
es sehnt doch mein Herz nach Liebe sich.
Du hast im Himmel viel Englein bei Dir,
schick doch Einen davon auch zu mir.
My translation of the Volga song
Have you in Heaven foresaken me.
My heart yearns so much for love from thee.
You have in Heaven many angels around thee,
Please send just one down here to me.
The lecture ended and so did the complete history about Catherine The Great, Empress of Russia. During Hitler’s reign (and terror) they did not have the chance to return, they were forgotten, but after WWII the democratic government of Germany brought them back to their beloved home land.
Now, we had permission to open our envelopes.
Tickets to the Opera!
“Der Zarewitch” The Tzarevich, an operetta, music by Franz Lehàr and libretto by Heinz Reichert and Bela Jenbach, based on the story of Alexei, son of a Russian Tzar, Peter The Great, composed in 1927.
Saturday evening arrived and the curtain went up and for me it was a mesmerizing performance, but I came to hear this heart wrenching song. The music throughout was beautiful and touching! The words unforgettable. “The Volga Song” by a great composer, Franz Lehàr another masterpiece!
We all ended up at the beautiful Rath Haus Cellers in mid town by the castle for a supper, a glass of wine and a discussion session.
What was funny was, we all noticed as we sat around a big round table, that everyone still had tears from crying throughout the song.
A big thanks to our beloved Dr. Stern!
A once in a lifetime experience!