Search - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Jörg Demus :: Schubert: Goethe-Lieder / Fischer-Dieskau, Demus, Moore

The heart of Schubert, the emotional gamut of Goethe

Dr. Robert S. Bean | Winter Springs, FL United States | 04/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of the Goethelieder is genuinely the "gold standard" against which all others should be judged. I say this because not only have I heard the majority of the works by other baritones (and "Der Erlkonig" performed by two mezzo-sopranos): however, I've followed the vocal development of Fischer-Deskau from the earliest CD I could find (from an EMI CD containing Der Erlko"nig from 1951 according to the booklet's timeline--with Gerald Moore on piano.) Another recording dates from the mid 1960's (Erlko"nig, for example, dated as 1965--again, Gerald Moore, pianist.) However, when I heard this collection of Schubert's Goethelieder, I was entranced. Selections 1-14 feature Jo"rg Demus as pianist (with whom Fischer-Deskau formed a close professional and personal relationxhip) and Gerald Moore as pianist on selections 15-24. Fischer-Dieskau's "Heidenro"slien" is so good that even I play it over and over (although I've heard it so much...Fischer-Deskau gives it a beautiful rendition.) His "Erlko"nig" is such that he gets the four voices of the narrator, the child, the father, and the Erlko"nig so well it is astonishing. Gerald Moore also performs the initial ascending triplet figures on the left hand in paralell octaves so well that it sounds like one pianist is playing the right hand triplet figures whereas another pianist is using two hands to play the left parallel octaves!!
This is a MUST HAVE for Schubert/Fischer-Deskau/piano lovers!!
Five stars hands down and thumbs up!!!!!!!"

Prime Schubert lieder recordings from Fischer-Dieskau's prim

Alan Majeska | Bad Axe, MI, USA | 11/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DG released this recording of Schubert lieder based on texts of Wolfgang von Goethe in the late 1990s. I bought it in 1999 on the strength of a review in AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE, where the reviewer said "Fischer-Dieskau could do it all" - an apt description. Keep in mind that many of these tracks are with pianist Jorg Demus, and are not the same as those in Fischer-Dieskau's 2 big DG boxes (9 disc each) of Schubert Lieder, which are with pianist Gerald Moore.



These recordings date from the late 1950s and early 1960s when Fischer-Dieskau (b. 1925), was in his mid 30s, and in great shape vocally, performing lieder and opera all over Europe, + prolifically making recordings for EMI and DG which were released on LP in the US and Europe.



This is a valuable disc for those wanting a sampling of Schubert lieder, or a sampling of Fischer-Dieskau and aren't interested in collecting all of F-D's recordings, or all the Schubert lieder. The sound is stereo, and is very good: vivid and life like. Even though these were recorded 45+ years ago, I feel Mr. Fischer-Dieskau right in the room with me when listening to these. The last several tracks are with Gerald Moore, pianist, Fischer-Dieskau's long time collaborator on lieder of many composers.



Schubert's sound world is a different, more intimate one than Beethoven, his contemporary. The lieder Schubert set with texts of Wolfgang von Goethe are among his most famous and for good reason: they are among his most inspired works. Listening to these lieder, one can get away from the rat race, from our high tech, cold, mechanical, materialistic world, and have a great musical/spiritual experience. Thank you: Deutsche grammophon for releasing this, and thank you, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau for sharing your great talent with the world! Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau can do it all, to which this disc attests."