Is this nine-disc set of the early Deutsche Grammophon recordings of great German baritone
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau for everyone? No, with mostly antique sound and more often than not recherché repertoire, it's for the hardcore
Fischer-Dieskau fan only. Will the hardcore fan enjoy it? Yes, with transfixing performances of the master at the peak of his young powers, hardcore
Fischer-Dieskau fans will absolutely and thoroughly enjoy this set. How could they not? The set includes his devastating 1949 debut recording of Brahms' Vier ernste Gesänge, his astounding 1950 recording of Bach's Ich habe genug Cantata, his ardent 1957 recording of Schumann's Dichterliebe, his stupendous 1956 recording of Gluck's Orpheus und Eurydice, and his passionate 1956 recording of
Henze's Fünf neopolitanische Lieder, his convincing 1974 recording of Meyerbeer's lieder, and his compelling 1960 recording of 23 early settings of Goethe's poetry by composers including Zelter, Neefe, von Preussen, von Sechendorff, and a very youthful Richard Wagner, plus a nearly hour-long interview from 1960 in which
Fischer-Dieskau discusses everything from his childhood to his views on the responsibilities of the performing artist. While anyone but a hardcore
Fischer-Dieskau fan should start with his later recordings of Brahms, Schumann, Bach, and, above all, Schubert, any hardcore fan will have to hear these performances.