Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, RIP

[rodney_h_d]

R4's "Last Word" programme at 4:00pm this afternoon was edited to include a tribute from Sir Thomas Allen.

[Norfolk Born]

It looks as though Radio 4 may have, yet again, been quicker of the mark than Radio 3.
As for the 'respected German baritone' - that's a bit like describing Bill Gates as an innovative data processing expert - or Mozart as a skilful Austrian composer.

[gurnemanz]

I actually started welling up when I heard the news - something I am not regularly prone to and also assumed he would just keep going for ever. His Schöne Müllerin in mono with Gerald Moore was one of my first classical discs aged eighteen 44 years ago. I played it until the grooves wore out and I knew the songs off by heart. He has been with me all the way - not just his voice but also his books. Alas, I never saw him singing live and am glad we made it to his 75th birthday celebration at the Wigmore.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

He was remarkable for his longevity as a singer in German. For many, the gutteral nature of the language wears down the voice.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

His Schöne Müllerin in mono with Gerald Moore was one of my first classical discs aged eighteen 44 years ago.

I learnt the work from this recording. My uncle lent it to me - the orginal issue was on 4 LP sides.
.

[kernelbogey]

I find it affecting that he began singing while in an American POW camp in Italy, 1945-47: song having the power to transcend the tragedy of wartime Europe.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Sad news. My first complete opera recording was Karl Böhm's Die Zauberflöte with DF-D as Papageno and he's still the voice I 'hear' when I think of this role. He was peerless in German Lieder -a true Meistersinger in every sense.

Interesting to see that the Guardian obit was written by the great Alan Blyth, who himself died in 2007...

[teamsaint]

Very sad news indeed, I grew up with his recordings of the Schubert and Mahler songcycles. I did get to see him live just the once in Schoenberg's "Gurrelieder" in the RFH some years ago as the sprecher.

A great singer, once of the best of his generation. RIP DF-D

Great that you did get to see him, if only the once. There is a good lesson there, if any of us need it.
A wonderful singer.
RIP

[Maclintick]

Very sad news indeed, I grew up with his recordings of the Schubert and Mahler songcycles. I did get to see him live just the once in Schoenberg's "Gurrelieder" in the RFH some years ago as the sprecher. A great singer, once of the best of his generation. RIP DF-D

I too was at that Festival Hall "Gurrelieder", where as I recall, DF-D almost-but-not-quite sang "Herr Ganzefuss ....", bringing a valedictory poignancy to the most affecting moment of the piece. In the late 60's I was lucky enough to hear him in recital, in a very intimate university venue, as he was one of the artists of that generation who, in addition to their more stellar commitments, travelled widely to bring music to the people. He was an iconic figure in our household, the literal embodiment of the "Good German" & his importance in the post-war rehabilitation of German art and culture can't be underestimated. A historically significant figure, & peerless singer.

[Hornspieler]

I remember him from his very first appearances in this country. I was privileged to be playing in the RFH in 1955 under Bruno Walter when DF-D sang "Lieder einnes fahrenden gessellan" (forgive the spellinng -"Songs of a Wayfaring Lad")

He made his British debut in 1951 at the Royal Albert Hall when he sang in the Delius "Mass of Life" under Sir Thomas Beecham, but I'm talking more than 60 years ago, when I was concerned mostly with attending to my own performance under that eagle eye, so I can't claim to have been particularly aware of his singing on that occasion.

A great ambassador for music and a great loss to us all. Is there another DF-D in the wings somewhere?

I certainly hope so.

R.I.P. Dietrich Fischer Dieskau

Hornspieler

[rank_and_file]

So sorry to hear of the death of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, surely the pre-eminent male lieder singer since the war, a force for good and, using God's gift to him, someone who then gave back to so many such sublime pleasure.

Radio 4 had a brief tribute to him on the 5PM news hour and Hilary Finch had a part of this played:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIIS-UgixGE

RIP

[Hornspieler]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/9275911/Dietrich-Fischer-Dieskau.html

[ostuni]

Sad news, indeed. Several good posts today in Alex Ross's blog.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

RIP, DF-D, and thank you.

[StephenO]

Very sad news. DF-D was a major part of my introduction to classical music back in the 1970s and, although I was never fortunate enough to see him live, his unique voice and wonderful recordings of Schubert and Mahler have been an indispensible source of inspiration ever since. I can't think of another singer to equal him.