Bach: Cantata No. 211 “Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht” / Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan
This happened at a cafe in Leipzig when coffee was all the rage. Lieschen is a young girl who loves coffee and cannot stay without three cups of coffee a day. She sings of her love for coffee, saying, “How sweet the taste of coffee is! Sweeter than a thousand kisses, softer than Muscat.” Her father, Schlendrian, is a strict man and tries to get his daughter to stop loving coffee by nagging him about it, but it doesn’t work on his daughter. Schlendrian, who is in a difficult position, uses his groom as a shield, saying that he won’t let her marry anyone, but is that okay? It would be one thing if she was not allowed to marry a fixed boyfriend, but when you think about it, Lieschen doesn’t really care about these conditions, so she resolves the matter by choosing a husband who will give her coffee whenever she wants effortlessly.
First song: Recitative
Tenor, Basso Continuo
(Narrator)
Stop talking and be quiet.
Listen to what is about to happen.
The imposing Schlendrian has arrived with his daughter Lieschen.
Let’s hear how she treated him.
Second song: Aria
Bass, Strings, Basso Continuo
(Schlendrian)
Children are a huge nuisance and a source of hardship.
My daughter Lieschen, no matter how many times I tell her every day,
it just goes out the other ear.
Third song: Recitative
Soprano, Bass, Basso Continuo
(Schlendrian)
You troublesome, rebellious girl!
I wonder when she’ll understand.
No more coffee!
(Lieschen)
Oh, Dad, don’t be so harsh.
If I can’t drink coffee three times a day,
I’m afraid I’ll end up like shriveled goat meat.
Fourth Song: Aria
Soprano, Flute, Basso Continuo
(Lieschen)
Oh, how sweet coffee tastes!
Sweeter than a thousand kisses,
softer than Muscat.
Coffee, coffee, I can’t do without coffee.
If you want to do something about me,
just give me coffee.
Fifth Song: Recitative
Soprano, Bass, Basso Continuo
(Schlendrian)
If you don’t give up coffee,
I won’t let you go to the wedding party.
I won’t even let you go for a walk.
(Lieschen)
I don’t mind at all,
as long as you give me coffee.
(Schlendrian)
Okay.
I won’t buy you a fashionable skirt.
(Lieschen)
I won’t die without it.
(Schlendrian)
I’ll make it so you can’t even look anyone pass by from your window!
(Lieschen)
I don’t care.
I’m just asking for some coffee.
(Schlendrian)
You won’t get any gold or silver for your hat.
(Lieschen)
I don’t mind, but please don’t take away my pleasure.
(Schlendrian)
You rude bastard,
so you don’t want anything but coffee?
Sixth Song: Aria
Bass, Basso Continuo
(Schlendrian)
This selfish, stubborn girl is completely out of my control.
But if I can just find her weak spot,
then I can do something about it.
Seventh Song: Recitative
Soprano, Bass, Basso Continuo
(Schlendrian)
Now, listen to your father!
(Lieschen)
Everything except coffee.
(Schlendrian)
Do as you please.
By the way, you don’t want to get married, do you?
(Lieschen)
Of course I want a husband, father.
(Schlendrian)
I swear, I won’t allow you to get married.
(Lieschen)
And what if I don’t give up coffee?
Oh, father, I understand, then I won’t drink coffee anymore.
(Schlendrian)
I did it, I finally listened to me!
Eighth Song: Aria
Soprano, Strings, Basso Continuo
(Lieschen)
Even today!
Your father has forgiven me.
Oh, my husband!
I feel so good,
I can’t wait to meet him.
I hope I can find a strong, handsome husband to replace my coffee drink before I go to bed today.
Ninth Song: Recitative
Tenor, Basso Continuo
(narrator)
So, Mr. Schlendrian hurriedly went out to find a husband for his daughter, Lieschen.
But before Lieschen could bring him into her home,
she wanted him to promise her,
“I want to drink coffee whenever I want.”
Tenth Song: Chorus
Just as a cat can’t stop trying to catch a mouse,
my daughter can’t stop drinking coffee.
My mother and grandmother all drink it,
so there’s no way my daughter can stop drinking coffee!
Carolyn Sampson (Soprano), Ryo Sakurada (Tenor), Stephan Schreckenberger (Bass)
