1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dieskau Sings German Opera, November 28, 2005
This review is from: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: Opera Scenes(1965-1976) (Audio CD)
This recording finds the world famous German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau singing German opera, one of his strong suits along with the Lieder he is mostly associated with. While his voice is of a lyric quality, he was able to colorize and shade his voice in different styles so that he could aptly portray villains or saints, in other words in the late 60's and early 70's, audiences could find that Dieskau could sing Scarpia in Puccini'ts Tosca one night and Gurnemanz in Wagner's Parsifal another night. The modern Hindesmith opera Cardillac features a strong baritone part and Dieskau sings the aria Was Ich Erschuf with bravura. Of course, his Gurnemanz in Parsifal is a glorious showcase of bass prowess and contrary to detractors' comments, his voice is wholly suited for Wagner and Strauss. As Herod (or Jochanaan ?) in Strauss Salome, he sings with great strength and regal bearing. It helps that Dieskau's singing is supported by the Bavarian State Orchestra, a supremely magnetic orchestra conducted by the illustrious Wolfgang Sawallisch. Far from the majestic Herod or even Gurnemanz of Parsifal is the comic and lively Falstaff. Here is his aria "Die Ehre!" and Dieskau sings with great amusement. Strauss' last opera, the fantasy work "Woman Without A Shadow" features another virtuosic baritone role which Dieskau essays with fine artistic merit. This recording is only an excerpt from the firt-rate classic recording starring the great Wagnerian singers James King and Birgit Nilsson. All in all, this recording is a supreme example of the artistry of Dietrich Fischer Dieskau. I can't wait until Deutsche Grammophone issus a 3-disc box set of opera scenes, Lieder and other vocal works that Dieskau has sung throughout his career. In this recording we find him in excellent form, his voice captured in the zenith of his operatic career 1965 to 1976 spanning a decade. All fans of Dieskau will want own this recording.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
