Who Is Silvia?

In a previous post (“Superlative Obscurity”) I mentioned Franz Schubert’s song, “Who Is Silvia?” taken directly from Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona text in Act IV, scene ii. Now, without any further ado, here is Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf’s rendition in English. (Watch at your own risk, there are no subtitles here.)


I don’t want to give away too much, but our version is slightly less . . . um . . . refined. And involves a ukelele. You’re intrigued? You’re smitten? We open next week! What are you waiting for? Get your tickets for Two Gentlemen of Verona today!

Have you ever heard this song before? I’m told it works much better in German. Would anyone like to agree or disagree?

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One Response to “Who Is Silvia?”

  • Gail Yost Says:

    With due respect to Ms. Schwarzkopt (who might have been singing the German version for all we could discern)–Thurio, Proteus, and Launce presented a much more moving rendition (plaintive, even). We’ve never seen the ukelele and the tambourine played so skillfully.
    Bravo!

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