Schubert Ave Maria

Part of the Opera Audition Arias series, featuring three keys in one version: High voice: Bb (original key); Medium voice: Ab; Low voice: G. Performance notes by Gordon Stewart.

Schubert's text for Ave Maria is not the Latin prayer to the Virgin but the heartfeltwords of Ellen Douglas in Sir Walter Scott'sverse-novel, THE LADY OF THE LAKE, set in the early part of the sixteenth century. Ellen is going with her father to Stirling, where he intends to give himself up to the King to prevent a bloody war. They take refuge for the night in a wild and rocky place, reputedly haunted by 'fays and satyrs.' Her 'melting voice attends the strings' of the harp of their faithful minstrel, Allan-bane.--Gordon Stewart