On September 20, 1897 Hugo Wolf was taken to Dr. Svetlins sanatorium in Vienna, and on February 22, 1903, he died there, insane, at the age of only 43. The last songs he wrote in March 1897, were the three Michelangelo Lieder. The settings of German translations by Robert-Tornow of the original poems of Michelangelo are for low voice. It goes without saying that the sculptor must sing bass, Wolf remarked. These are verses of retrospection, old age and resignation, with a streak of the pessimism of the ancients, contemplating the inevitable. The second poem, "Alles endet, was entstehet", which was particularly close to Wolf's heart, is a fragment of a ballad a song of the dead, an inexorable utterance in the face of eternity, the cruel truth about the passing of all that is earthly. Wolf intended to use the title "Vanitas vanitatum" for the composition, which moves along slowly and steadily, and whose tonality of C sharp minor, from which there is no escape, is only briefly illuminated by a ray of light in F major, at the words of the dead "Menschen waren wir ja auch" (We also were human beings). Above from program notes by Karl Schumann Alles endet, was entstehet Alles endet, was entstehet. Alles, alles rings vergehet, Denn die Zeit flieht, und die Sonne Sieht, daß alles rings vergehet, Denken, Reden, Schmerz, und Wonne; Und die wir zu Enkeln hatten Schwanden wie bei Tag die Schatten, Wie ein Dunst im Windeshauch. Menschen waren wir ja auch, Froh und traurig, so wie ihr, Und nun sind wir leblos hier, Sind nur Erde, wie ihr sehet. Alles endet, was entstehet. Alles, alles rings vergehet. Original poem by Michelangelo German version by Walter Heinrich Robert-Tornow (1852-1895) All that is created must end. All that is around us passes away, For time flies, and the sun Sees, that everything passes away, Thinking, talking, pain and joy; And those we had as grandchildren Vanished as does the day into shadows, As does a vapor in a breath of wind. We were human beings also Happy and sad just like you, And now we are lifeless here, Are only earth as you can see. All that is created must end. All that is around us passes away. English translation by FiDiTanzer528 Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) Daniel Barenboim (piano)