Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

The German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (born May 28, 1925) is regarded by many as the finest Lieder singer of his generation. He is greatly admired for his interpretations and the tonal qualities and shadings of color in his voice. Fischer-Dieskau also performed and recorded many operatic roles.

Singing career

In 1947, he returned to Germany where he launched his professional career as a singer in Badenweiler when he sang in Brahms' German Requiem without any rehearsal -- he was a last-minute substitute for a singer who was indisposed. He gave his first lieder recital in Leipzig in the fall of 1947 and followed it soon afterward with a highly successful first concert at Berlin's Titania-Palast.

Related Topics:
1947 - Badenweiler - Brahms - Leipzig

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In the fall of 1948, Fischer-Dieskau was engaged as principal lyric baritone at the Berlin State Opera, making his debut as Posa in Verdi's Don Carlos under Ferenc Fricsay. Subsequently, Fischer-Dieskau made guest appearances at the opera houses in Vienna and Munich. After 1949 made concert tours in England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Italy. In 1951, he made his Salzburg Festival concert debut with Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer under Wilhelm Furtwängler. He made regular opera appearances at the Bayreuth Festival between 1954 and 1961 and at the Salzburg Festival from 1956 until the early 1970s.

Related Topics:
1948 - Berlin State Opera - Verdi - Don Carlos - Ferenc Fricsay - Vienna - Munich - 1949 - England - Netherlands - Switzerland - France - 1951 - Salzburg Festival - Mahler - Songs of a Wayfarer - Wilhelm Furtwängler - Bayreuth Festival - 1954 - 1961 - 1956 - 1970s

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As an opera singer, Fischer-Dieskau performed mainly at Berlin and at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. He also made guest appearances at the Vienna State Opera, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London, at the Hamburg State Opera, in Japan, and at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Festival. His first concert tour in the United States took place in 1955, and he gave his first lieder recital at New York City's Carnegie Hall in 1964.

Related Topics:
Bavarian State Opera - Munich - Vienna State Opera - Royal Opera House - London - Hamburg State Opera - Japan - Edinburgh - Edinburgh Festival - United States - 1955 - New York City - Carnegie Hall - 1964

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In 1951, Fischer-Dieskau made his first recordings of lieder with the pianist Gerald Moore, EMI Studios, London; they performed and recorded frequently until the latter's retirement in 1967 and were renowned above all for their performances of Franz Schubert.

Related Topics:
Gerald Moore - EMI - 1967 - Franz Schubert

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Fischer-Dieskau also performed many works of contemporary music, including Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber, Hans Werner Henze, Ernst Krenek, Witold Lutoslawski, Siegfried Matthus, Winfried Zillig, Gottfried von Einem and Aribert Reimann.

Related Topics:
Contemporary music - Benjamin Britten - Samuel Barber - Hans Werner Henze - Ernst Krenek - Witold Lutoslawski - Siegfried Matthus - Winfried Zillig - Gottfried von Einem - Aribert Reimann

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In his 1972 essay "The Grain of the Voice", French literary critic Roland Barthes said that Fischer-Dieskau "... reigns more or less unchallenged over the recording of vocal music."

Related Topics:
1972 - French - Literary critic - Roland Barthes

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Fischer-Dieskau retired from the concert hall in 1992 and dedicated himself to conducting, teaching (especially Lieder), painting, writing books, etc.

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In a 1999 "Top Singers of the Century" critics' poll compiled by British Classic CD magazine, Fischer-Dieskau came second, behind Jussi Björling.

Related Topics:
1999 - Classic CD - Jussi Björling

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