Reverberations: The Memoirs of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau [Paperback]

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Author), Ruth Hein (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"The great lieder singer, still splendidly active in his mid-60s, offers one of the more remarkable musical memoirs, particularly given the range of his experience," said PW . "He emerges from these pages as a notably thoughtful, intelligent artist whose story is only occasionally marred by the vanity apparently endemic to the breed." Photos.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This book is undiluted pleasure, not least because Fischer-Dieskau writes exceedingly well. His memoirs include affectionate vignettes of singers, conductors, stage directors, actors, and composers, presented with tact, generosity, insight, and humility; humorous, graceful descriptions of difficult situations; and penetrating verbal sketches of cities. These memoirs are in no chronological order, yet each flows from the previous one. Throughout, Fischer-Dieskau keeps discussion of his private self to a minimum, yet he emerges as a caring, sensitive man who gives the same thought to his friends as he does to the composer whose music he sings. He writes of his art without pride and without self-deprecation. The translation is excellent. Highly recommended for general readers.
- Philippa Kiraly, Cleveland
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Fromm Intl (November 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880641223
• ISBN-13: 978-0880641227
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,694,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not an easy read but full of valuable information., October 20, 1999

By 

Celia A. Sgroi - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reverberations: The Memoirs of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Paperback)

This book of memoirs provides valuable insights into the mind and personality of Fischer-Dieskau for those who are willing to read between the lines. It really consists of *two* books: a fairly brief recounting of the singer's early life, and a series of recollections of people (conductors, composers, pianists, other singers) with whom the singer worked during his long career. The revelations of self come mainly in F-D's reactions to the people and events that he experienced. The reader is never allowed to penetrate the wall of privacy that surrounds the author, but his seriousness about his art, his joy in collaboration with other artists, his curiosity, his humor, and his surprising insecurity come through very clearly. One major stumbling block is that the recollections are not presented chronologically but rather topically and almost in chains of associations. This makes reading somewhat difficult but also gives insights into how the author thinks. The other problem is the very pedestrian and error-ridden translation. Nevertheless, the book is invaluable for anyone who wants to understand more about the rebuilding of musical and artistic life in Germany after World War II.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly emotionally detached autobiography, May 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Reverberations: The Memoirs of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Paperback)

This is a somewhat uneven accounting of Fischer-Dieskau's life. I was fascinated to read about his childhood and his experiences during the Second World War. Maybe I missed something, but there was precious little information about how he developed his voice and unique singing style. I'm not sure if it's a function of the translation, but the tone of the narrative is dry, emotionally detached, and matter-of-fact. We are asked to accept his recounting of events as they are with little explanation; "this is what happened" is all we hear. Singers and fans of Dieskau will want to have this book, but it's not great writing.