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Oh, no! He was truly a legend, and recorded an unimaginable amount of music (including all the Schubert Lieder). I will honor him today by listening to some of his recorded legacy.
I can't even find the words to describe what I'm feeling right now... I'm deeply saddened 28 May 1925 – 18 May 2012... That's 10 days before his 87th birthday
May he rest in peace. One of the greatest baritones and musicians! For the nerd among you, here is a You Tube clip from David Finckel, a prominent cellist who dissects DFD's vibrato in Du bist die Ruh. The goal is to "sound this great" on the cello! He also said elsewhere that DFD's pitch can be so pure, you can tune your instrument to it.
Where to begin. Did anyone ever hear his recording -in English- of Elijah? It had such an authoritative dignity to it, even when he snarled 'Take all the prophets of Baal...'
When I first started accompanying lieder I used to listen to his recordings, and his long time accompanist Gerald Moore literally taught me how to play the piano parts of the Strauss lieder, always my favourite composer for that genre.
F-D had to have been the most prolific vocalist ever to record. Didn't he do all the Schubert and Brahms lieder, plus vast amounts of Strauss, Wolf, Lowe and other less well known Germans? He even recorded Ives if I am not mistaken.
He almost got through all the Schumann lieder -but the joke goes- his record company dissuaded him from recording Frauenliebe und leben.
May he rest in peace. One of the greatest baritones and musicians! For the nerd among you, here is a You Tube clip from David Finckel, a prominent cellist who dissects DFD's vibrato in Du bist die Ruh. The goal is to "sound this great" on the cello! He also said elsewhere that DFD's pitch can be so pure, you can tune your instrument to it.
A question for trained singers :
Is the speed and width of vibrato something that all singers can consciously control as Finckel suggests, or is more a "natural" result of the volume and the pitch at which the singer is singing a given note? Does the calmer opening of "Du bist die Ruh'" compared to the intensity of the climax "cause" the speed and width of the vibrato to change or is Fischer-Dieskau actually controlling these elements of his vibrato?
Some singers seem to have a noticeable, distinctive quality to their vibrato; one example that comes to mind is Schwarzkopf who had a very fast, tight vibrato while some others seem to have a wider and/or slower vibrato.
I have read the occasional comment or criticism of some singers that the vibrato tends to widen under increased volume, so I wonder, then, how much of this is under the singer's control.
Rest in peace...He will always be the voice of lieder to me.
As I've often said on this forum, Fischer-Dieskau's recording of Mahler's "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen" is one of the most sublime recordings ever made; thank you, pj, for quoting it.
I had the opportunity to hear Fischer-Dieskau present an all Schubert program at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles in 1968 (his LA debut as I recall). Then in 1971, I heard him perform an all Beethoven recital in Heidelberg, Germany. I was one of the lucky few who were able to sneak backstage after the recital and get his autograph. I still have the signed program book. Fischer-Dieskau will always be the voice of lieder to me as well. As I write this I'm listening to an old LP recording of Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore performing Schubert, Schumann and Strauss. Absolutely wonderful.
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This is the first I'd heard - I'm devastated. Like Bruce, I feel as if I've lost a lifetime musical companion. Give me some time to pull myself together and I'll post some of my favourites. Yes, I know he had a long and very full life - but I just have to go and have a weep.
F-D had to have been the most prolific vocalist ever to record. Didn't he do all the Schubert and Brahms lieder, plus vast amounts of Strauss, Wolf, Lowe and other less well known Germans? He even recorded Ives if I am not mistaken.
He actually recorded all the Strauss Lieder (except perhaps ones like Wiegenlied), and yes, I have a recording of him singing Ives.
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