Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau R.I.P.

[stillivor]

He's left us some great Mahler recordings.



          Ivor

[Sturmisch Bewegt]

Sad news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=587P3LMhkJg&feature=fvwrel

His DG "Fischer Dieskau Edition" CD of the Lieder eines faherenden gesellen, the Kindertotenlieder and the Rückert Lieder is one of my "desert island" CDs.

[barry guerrero]

Although F-D developed a sort of 'barking' style later in his career, there's no denying that he probably contributed more to the art of lieder than anybody. Also, as far as I can tell, nobody has surpassed him in Busoni's "Doktor Faust". Try the live Adrian Boult version on the LPO's own label, which is greatly truncated. In spite of that fact, F-D. is simply outrageous.

[Prospero]

From the late 1940s until about 1975, Fischer-Dieskau was the greatest of Lieder singers. His repertoire and artistic achievement were unrivaled.

Gerald Moore, the aristocrat of accompanist, said that Fischer-Dieskau's voice was of incomparable beauty.
And his knowledge and exploration of German texts was the most complete of the recorded era.

His voice at the end of his career was in far better shape than the great Hans Hotter in his last singing years.

Greatness must be acknowledged.

Tom in Vermont

[FP23]

Very sad news - I hope there's plenty of radio/media attention for his music in the next few days/weeks/months/years...
and he shares a dying day with Mahler - 101 years later...
here's my blogpost about it: http://mahlermahlermahler.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2012/05/18th-may-ewig-ewig.html

Much as I love DFD's Mahler, I've gotta admit that I'm going to be listening to lots of his Schubert in the next few days!

[waderice]

I saw Fischer-Dieskau in three different recitals here in DC years ago, though he had a different accompanist, not Gerald Moore, who had by then retired.  One of the recitals was all-Mahler.  Definitely, he was a classic, and I will never forget his commanding presence on the stage of the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall.  Has anyone else here heard and seen him perform?

Wade

[Prospero]

I heard him in a Schubert recital in Montreal in perhaps 1974. He was a commanding presence with a still beautiful voice, not as honeyed I imagine as in the 50s and 60s, but full of a remarkable blend of art and intelligence.

I believe that the Furtwanger 1952 Tristan sessions were completed a bit early, and they had time for a second recording of the Immolation scene with Flagstad and the famous Mahler Songs of a Wayfarer with Fischer-Dieskau.

Fischer-Dieskau also wrote at least one book on the Lieder tradition.

A great artist on so many levels.

Tom in Vermont

[waderice]

Fischer-Dieskau also wrote at least one book on the Lieder tradition.

That book is in my library.  It's titled The Fischer-Dieskau Book of Lieder.

Wade