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Schubert, with the instruction to be sung on the water…
Auf dem Wasser zu singen: text & translation
A meander along the banks of a stream with Beethoven:
(00:18) I. Allegro ma non troppo: Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande /
Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside
(12:43) II. Andante molto mosso: Szene am Bach /
Scene by the brook
(24:42) III. Allegro: Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute /
Merry gathering of the countryfolk
(30:15) IV. Allegro: Gewitter, Sturm /
Thunderstorm
(34:16) V. Allegretto: Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm /
Shepherd’s song. Glad and grateful feelings after the storm
A fountain at morning in the Valle Giulia in Rome – the opening of Respighi‘s Fontane di Roma:
The tragic end of Schubert‘s song cycle Die schöne Müllerin sung by Fritz Wunderlich:
Des Baches Wiegenlied (The Stream’s Lullaby) – Die schöne Müllerin: text & translation
The first of two songs about fresh water fish. Schubert‘s wily fisherman outwits a poor trout in Die Forelle:
Die Forelle (The Trout): text & translation
Poulenc‘s Bestiary muses (briefly) on the longevity of carp:
La carpe (The carp): text & translation
…plus a virtuoso piano work in which Debussy recreates in music the aquatic grace of goldfish:
Conjured by Ravel in his Gaspard de la nuit, the water sprite, Ondine:
The brook, waterfall and their spirit: Richard Strauss‘s mountaineers follow an Alpine stream:
I. Nacht – 0:00
II. Sonnenaufgang – 3:26
III. Der Anstieg – 4:50
IV. Eintritt in der Wald (Entry into the forest) – 7:09
V. Wanderung neben dem Bach (Wandering by the brook) – 12:34
VI. Am Wasserfall (At the waterfall)- 13:22
VII. Erscheinung (Apparition) – 13:38
VIII. Auf blumige Wiesen – 14:25
IX. Auf der Alm – 15:20
X – Durch Dickicht und Gestrüpp auf Irrwegen – 17:34
XI. Auf dem Gletscher – 19:02
XII. Gefahrvolle Augenblicke – 20:04
XIII. Auf dem Gipfel – 21:27
XIV. Vision – 26:07
XV. Nebel steigen auf – 29:41
XVI. Die Sonne verdüstert sich allmählich – 29:58
XVII. Elegie – 30:48
XVIII. Stille vor der Sturm – 32:34
XIX. Gewitter und Sturm – Abstieg – 35:24
XX. Sonnenuntergang – 39:13
XXI. Ausklang – 41:24
XXII. Nacht – 47:29
The final scene of Dvořák‘s Rusalka (the dancers? Enhancement or distraction?)
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The Art of Listening 
A brilliant essay. The wonderful duet from Dvorak’s Rusalka was new to me – why do we never hear this opera performed? I loved the film of Vlado Perlemuter playing Ravel too, his hands as expressive as his face.