Der Glückliche is a late song to a poem by the minor author Adolf Wilbrandt, who also translated a play by Pedro Calderón de la Barca into German and wrote novellas as well as poetry. Here, once again, a lover sees everything in Nature through eyes newly dazzled ever since lips and bodies met in mutual desire. Beginning with exultant but ceremonial-sounding rising harmonies in the piano, the song quickens pace and becomes ever more passionate … until the soft and reverent ending. This is a particularly moving example of Liszt’s lifelong love of extreme contrasts in song.
from notes by Susan Youens © 2010
;)
