Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: Last Words

The great German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is greatly admired for his interpretive insight, note-perfect control of the tonal qualities, and shadings of color in his voice, for exceptional rhythmic sense and impeccable diction. His reputation as a lieder singer is so high -- he had a repertoire of more than 3.000 songs -- that it is easy to forget his extensive list of operatic roles. In this conversation Fischer-Dieskau reveals for the last time on camera the secrets of his outstanding career. His "Last Words" provide a deep insight into the extraordinary artistic life of one of the most famous and prolific lieder singer of our time. Fischer-Dieskau died in May 2012 at the age of 86.

[@joeowens6180]

This is one man who truly cannot be replaced!

[@zriter59escritor33]

I hope my extremely limited knowledge of German sufficiently expresses this: Dieser Mann war ein Meistersinger.

[@joachimstein9404]

Zriter59 Escritor Perfect and absolutely correct! A German couldn‘t say this any better.😀👍🙏🏻

[@ikatsumii]

@@joachimstein9404 :) *sänger

[@joachimstein9404]

Katsumi I know! But „Meistersinger“ is a very nice allusion to Richard Wagner‘s opera, where Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sang Hans Sachs. So, in a double sense, he was a „Meistersinger“ as well as a Meister-„sänger“.

[@lordtennysonspipe1239]

Absolutely delightful to hear him speak as well as sing!

[@mckavitt]

Caleb Johnson I agree. And like his speaking voice too!

[@tspark1071]

yes. interesting to hear him talk about his music story

[@angstyautist]

His speaking voice is as distinctive as the one he sang with. That's not true of all singers by any means. Think of Callas.

[@photo161]

And here he was, so near the end and still filled with that incredible enthusiasm for the work and the art, the enthusiasm that had enabled him to become one of the greatest of singers of his time...of all time.

[@baritonebynight]

My favorite baritone....and one of my favorite singers of all time.

[@TheMinisigi]

Fischer-Dieskau's sheer joy in music seems to shine through in this interview. This delight in his craft was one of the things that made him such a superlative artist

[@ronaldo_ofalia]

Indeed. He overflows with intense joy. Maybe aside from his beautiful voice, intelligent interpretation, and delicate sensitivity-that joy is what makes him really the most profound and beloved lieder singer ever. Rest in peace Herr Fischer-Dieskau.

[@andreashoppe1969]

One of the best singers of all time.

[@verrykonig8980]

Einfach schade,daß er nicht mehr da ist und um so schöner,daß diese wunderschönen Aufnahmen hier zu finden und angehört werden können .Ich liebe diese Stimme 🙋👑💕

[@sabinegustson6974]

Die Stimme des jungen DiFiDi war voller Schmelz und Schönheit!

[@Piflaser]

Ja, absolut. Und sie hatte trotzdem einen festen Kern und zerschmolz nicht. Sehr bemerkenswert.

[@waltervonstolzing13]

"Die selbe Hitze erreichen, die der Komponist erreicht hat, als er es komponiert hat" Großartig!

[@JoseighBlogs]

Golly! What an expressive demeanour ~ his joy and knowledge exhibited with such enthusiasm and humour ~ his face, his body his jesticulations bright with the wonder of his fabulous singing art ~ and, his conversational German such a delight to hear. Thank you

[@hannes5987]

Dieser Mann war ein grandioses und sympathisches Genie!

[@fredhoupt4078]

Such a beloved voice, such a musical gift.

[@manalzd764]

Legendary.. His voice takes a person to another world

[@helenamatias5]

I love his voice... soooooo beautifull 😀

[@fslubin]

I swear, some people would give a thumbs down if God appeared and said, "Heaven for everybody!"

[@jeffcrane1136]

It's so bizarre. It's pathological.

[@quinto34]

it is..

[@AlexanderArsov]

Such a thing would certainly be fake and deserve thumbs down. :D

[@photo161]

Yes, but they first have to pull their thumbs out of their as*es where they normally make their home.

[@mckavitt]

Fred, well, w men & women like Caligula, Hitler & Catherine di Medici around, that might sound at first a bit odd. Tho' in the end, we would no doubt all understand & be joyous as you suggest.

[@Sshatalov1]

A beautiful artist...a beautiful language!

[@baritonebynight]

One of my favorite voices of all time.

[@ruthrattan905]

A pleasure to listen to

[@53651171]

What a privilege to hear the speaking voice of this great artist! Danke sehr.

[@leestamm3187]

This man was truly in a class by himself. Wonderful across a variety of repertoire. His recorded legacy is a timeless treasure. No one could sing Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder" as movingly as Fischer-Dieskau.

[@tomgeydan]

Ein vielseitiger Künstler, ein unübertroffener Meister seiner Kunst - und ein ausserordentlich interessanter und großartiger Mensch!

[@MusicFilmArt_UteNeumerkel]

Ja, und hier zudem so humorvoll! Ich habe ihn zuletzt erlebt im Meisterkurs 2008.

[@chazinko]

2:44 "One has to listen to what the music says". Truer words were never spoken!

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

What a beautiful, radiant spirit. must watch the whole thing!

[@janraffaello]

Woow, the phrase in which he explains that we must discover the same "heat' as the composer when he was composing the piece and that this gives us the energy to bring the audience immediately into higher "spheres... Isn't that great?

[@windstorm1000]

it certrainly is--I think you meant 'heart' though heat is good too.

[@jaikee9477]

He actually meant "heat". As usual, these sparsely English subtiles don't cover everything he said.

[@urmorph]

In context, perhaps "warmth" would be a better translation.

[@eduardodeoliveira5446]

We can't know how the composer felt while composing. It's mere speculation.

[@artdanks]

I was amazed by this remark of his. It is exactly the same message about singing that Maria Callas always expressed. When one wants to know the right gesture or expression to give, one only needs to listen to the music, because the composer has provided for that already.

[@mklambatsea]

We grown up with voices!! This voice have put a stamp in my life till today!! The technical perfection.Sound,Emotion and interpretation .... Isn t it this LIFE?? Thank you Dietrich Fisher Dieskau.... Danke ist wenig......You are my Teacher.

[@wearetemporary]

What a legacy this man left… I feel so privileged to have so many terrific recordings of his. I could spend the rest of my life just listening to his many milestone recordings of song cycles.

[@STUDIOLAFENICE]

So very touching and beautiful

[@jansumi]

Must find this documentary. That man was pure heaven...

[@merttalay9702]

He is a baritone but he s got a lyric tenor smoothness in his voice.

[@Piflaser]

And also the volume of a bass if he wanted.

[@henrygingercat]

Wise words from a wonderful musician whose legacy is unparalleled in so many ways.

[@danali45]

He was fabulous

[@Averros8000]

A great artist and an excellent interview.

[@TheMuston]

Such a golden voice, immediately recognizable. On top of that, technical perfection.

[@ilirllukaci5345]

So I will make a sweeping statement. This was the greatest musician of the 20th century.

[@santiagodeloscaballeros3743]

Magnifique! Merci infiniment pour le partage de cet entretien fantastique et très précieux avec le très grand et mythique Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, l'un des plus grands chanteurs de tous les temps!

[@tangoconelcorazon]

Beautiful insights from this fabulous artist.

[@weiterimtext8134]

Daß wir die drei bis vier großen Liedsänger gegeneinander ausspielen, ist kleinlich. Sollen wir doch dankbar sein, daß wir die musikalischen Götterboten Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hermann Prey, Fritz Wunderlich... haben und uns ihre Stimmen erhalten geblieben sind.

[@joangrimalt6920]

Und Matthias Goerne.

[@Delftai66]

und Christian Gerhaher... Tilman Lichdi...

[@hansjorgbaumann6811]

Bitte vergessen sie nicht den Christian Gerhaher!

[@jackjohnhameld6401]

Born in Berlin in 1925, received formal training in singing as a teenager, his handicapped brother was forcibly removed from the family home and starved to death in a Nazi institution; he himself was drafted into the Wehrmacht in 1943 ... Dietrich's life was an extraordinary one, and no singer in in our time has his versatility. The DVD of his Winterreise is a benchmark that will stand for all time. No wonder Schwarzkopf called him a god.

[@CJ-ft9yo]

i could not sleep last night and i discovered a beautiful recording of him singing Schubert organ grinder on youtube - mesmerising

[@MildGreenChile]

Thank you for posting this. I met him in 1981 in Vienna, before I had any idea who he was...

[@tesfuweldemikael2902]

But then you got the idea? :)

[@TiticatFollies]

OH MARVELOUS! What a gift to listen to his warm and intelligent words. And the eyes--clear and young as a boy's. Thank you. Do you know what year it was taped?

[@suzanneharrison679]

2009

[@CookieDTotR]

He was a great scholar of _Lieder_ as well. His writings, for instance, on the songs of Schumann and Schubert are quite wonderful. Thank you for uploading this excellent clip.

[@pamelalawrence9792]

A virtual GOD of the vocal arts.... butter tone especially Mahler! HE'S DA MANN

[@bigonzetti]

was ein wunderbares interview. ich hätte ihn gar nicht so lustig und ironisch eingeschätzt. cool.

[@AntW11]

Wonderful. Thank you for posting

[@marcopol217]

i love him

[@windstorm1000]

Singers--listen to this man. Music has to be infused with heart and emotion otherwise it doesn't come alive. That goes for Broadway too.

[@qendrimpopaj2399]

Ich liebe dich Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau ❤️.

[@brookeggleston9314]

Ich auch!!

[@PauloSantos-dr9uo]

He had a great sense of humour and also an incomparable voice, this man was a connoisseur strictu sensu !.

[@lucassanches-g3c]

Meu cantor favorito desde os meus 14 anos.

[@szerminator355]

DFD, unique and unrepeatable, true god of singing!

[@leonardosaezruz326]

Leyenda.

[@franciscoespinozagamboa6490]

Eminente maestro.¡gracias por el legado que nos dejaste!

[@robertseyfried7708]

Such a great talent and a marvelous human being. He will remain with us always!

[@MrSanjayV]

Its interesting to hearing him talk after having listened so long to him singing. The power of his voice captured that beautiful germanic strength in their music, none do Schubert like him. The world is poorer for his loss. Also he looked a lot like Tim Robins in his youth, just something I found interesting.

[@Rosangela161]

Maravillosa voz. Interesante personalidad.

[@wasserglatte3696]

Im Kunstlied singen ist er auch weiterhin das Maß aller Dinge !

[@yuehchopin]

Ich vermisse Ihn sehr!

[@fortinogonzalez848]

INMORTAL MAESE DIESKAU...........................................FOREVER AND EVER.........................

[@napsuta]

Thank you for this.

[@eporze]

Gran Hombre,que fue' un gran cantante,Esta en mi Altar de los Buenos !!!.-

[@NicolaSfredda]

Grande Maestro!

[@teeroosam6781]

C'est si beau.

[@sashakoukarina2934]

My absolute favourite! What is the name of the lied that he sings at 2:47? It's on the tip of my tongue... please, someone help! Thank you.

[@markesquivelarvizu6942]

I listen to his Schubert lieder singing every morning.

[@nicksum29]

Lucky interviewer.

[@utebrandenbusch5666]

nicksum29?

[@petervonunger242]

nicksum29 v

[@ericgarbutt8561]

The greatest

[@PatrickDieterKlavier]

Super!

[@SamuelAlamilla]

Totally true.

[@sandramilenafajardocortes4164]

Tolles Interview!!!

[@DDoonniiXX]

Eine Legende.

[@bribon5]

He was th greatest of the greatest.

[@dennishmiller]

What is there song he is singing at the very end of the actual interview (available for purchase on Amazon Prime)? So beautiful.

[@cheekbass]

Mache dich mein Herze rein from the St Matthew Passion

[@JeanGoyard]

Un tempérament éminemment sympathique, n'est-ce pas ? Du caractère, de la cordialité, de la vivacité, de la communicativité... et bien d'autres choses encore !

[@lesaxonenfrance4904]

+Jean Goyard Je suis bien de votre avis! C'est très émouvant de le regarder parler aussi librement et toujours avec le sourire.

[@marcodasilva9108]

excelente cantor.

[@mmbmbmbmb]

Thank you!

[@raynardi7243]

Quanta verità......

[@marthaaceves5181]

0:50 siempre su admiradora de su voz ❤️🌹

[@brianmreschke3441]

And what other wonderful expression of interest, involvement, appreciation and reference - than a handy wall of books but what kind of books?? Perhaps a number of scores, vocal exercises, biographies of famous artists and books on technique and all things musical. The point being that a personal library provides a convenient reference to all the things one cares about.

[@hansschettel6020]

bester deutschsprachiger Bariton

[@amyleefan85]

Ich habe wirklich nicht die geringste Ahnung, warum hier so über ihn gewettert wird, weil er die Stimme seiner Mutter humoristisch durch den Kakao gezogen hat um eine kleine Anekdote zu geben. Wir leben hier nicht mehr 19. Jahrhundert und die Aussage war auch nicht respektlos. Aber Antipathie schafft eben auch immer grundlose Kritik. Ein begnadeter Bariton, ohne Frage. Vergleiche sind in dieser Materie sowieso immer subjektiv.

[@Herbert-uh1op]

Nachdem ich den wunderbaren Kommentar von seinem jüngsten Sohn hierzu las, sehe ich das auch anders. Manuel Fischer-Dieskau schrieb einen so einmaligen Kommetar vor 10 Monaten, dass ich meine Kommentare diesbezüglich löschte. Des Weiteren sind auch schon von Anderen Kommentare dieser Art gelöscht worden. Deshalb bin ich kein Fan von ihm, aber ich sehe ein, dass ich Dietrich Fischer- Dieskau da Unrecht tat. Sein Sohn schrieb auch, dass er seine Mutter sehr geliebt hat und immer bei ihr war. D.F.D hatte sich etwas ungeschickt ausgedrückt, so, dass es Einige, wie auch ich, es in dem falschen Hals bekamen. Vielleicht können Sie seine Aussage mal lesen. Er schrieb zwar unter einem anderen Kanalnahmen, aber schrieb, dass er der Sohn ist und schrieb am Schluß seinen vollen Namen. Was ich erst seit kurzen weiß, starb seine Mutter bei seiner Geburt 1963. Und das kurz vor Weihnachten.

[@hansmahr8627]

19 Herbert 85 Ich kann zwar nicht nachvollziehen, wie man sich über Fischer-Dieskaus Aussage bezüglich der Gesangsqualität seiner Mutter, die mir doch im Ton eher gutmütig-scherzhaft als bösartig-herablassend vorkommt, ärgern kann, aber es spricht ja doch für Sie, dass Sie Ihre Meinung geändert haben. Das ist ja eher selten anzutreffen, vor allem im Netz, wo die meisten vielmehr dazu neigen, sich auch auf die haarsträubendsten Behauptungen stur zu versteifen, selbst wenn man weiß, dass man Unrecht hat. Das wollte ich nur mal kurz würdigen.

[@riowakabayashi]

いやあ、おなつかしい！初めて買ったCDがセンセの「詩人の恋」でした。

[@marcelramalho]

Where is the entire interview available for purchase?

[@dreamer_4937]

Gosh listening to him speak with that German accent! Orgasmic :DDD I joke of course haha but it is very satisfying in some way.

[@sasholyubakonstantinovi9082]

when is that interview made ?

[@원지영-x6b]

Er hatte ziemlich nomale Stimme Aber er war wunderbar Sanger in der Welt

[@mckavitt]

I too was surprised also at first by F-D's "nasty" critique of his mother's singing. Certainly it was not kind. But I think his purpose was at least bi-fold: First, to show that he did not inherit his beautiful voice from his genes. Secondly, perhaps to show that already sensitive & to music at that early age, his ears hurt a bit to hear her "vain attempts" to sing well, & incited him, as he says, "to do better". It always comes back to him, since he & his roots are the subject of the interview. He was humble enough to say that "once a voice was there..." , not pretending he'd been singing from the cradle, something that does exist! There are babies, 6 months old, who hum music & in tune. PS: He speaks w unstinting admiration of Flagstad. What had he to say of Bach, I wonder? Such an outstanding Bach cantata & Passions interpreter!

[@johnhunter1198]

What is the excerpt he is singing at 27 seconds?

[@franklinsteen4721]

from Bach St MATTHEW PASSION

[@gmcgarveyut]

Mache dich, mein Herze, rein

[@Gioconda144]

Does anyone know what he is singing in the beginning of the video?

[@nannojonkers3817]

Bach. From the 'Mattheus Passion': Baritonaria 'Mache dich mein Herze rein' In youtube. Separate.

[@nateofnathan8297]

What is the song at the beginning????

[@diezpiedrasnegras1703]

What is the piece at 0:36?

[@pianodoir]

Mache dich mein Herze rein - baritone aria from JS Bach's St. Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion). Karl Richter recording, if I remember correctly..

[@pilizorrilla13]

UNA GRAN PERDIDA PARA EL MUNDO DE LA MUSICA DE LAS ESFERAS. YA ESTA EN CASA OTRA VES.

[@gunnarsandkvist8778]

Too short

[@張小姐-k3c]

我很喜歡聽他唱魔王

[@weiterimtext8134]

@EuroArtsChannel Ihren Kanal wollte ich abonnieren. Doch dann habe ich nachgeschaut - Mein Urteil - zu einseitige Vorlieben.

[@Un-pk3ug]

ㅓㅜ말할때 목소리 개섹시하시네

[@hwanpark4326]

2:45 what's the name of the song!?

[@betelgeuse8766]

Schumann:Kerner Lieder op.35 No.2 Stirb,Lieb'und Freud'

[@kennanlukacs]

What was the song at 0:30?

[@hermannmueller9720]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH6UZ3SPoayDbck

[@Meena15273]

Wo kann ich die ganze Sendung finden?

[@Euroarts]

Hallo, das Interview "Letzte Worte" ist nur im Rahmen der großen Fischer-Dieskau Edition erschienen: shop.euroarts.com/index.php/bruno-monsaingeon-edition-i-dietrich-fischer-dieskau.html Ihr EuroArts Team

[@Meena15273]

Hallo und vielen Dank für die Information!

[@Meena15273]

***** Vielen Dank! :)

[@zriter59escritor33]

No talent for languages? DFD was too modest about that. He sang English, for example, clearly and beautifully. The only facet of sung English he did not quite master was the oa (aw) vowel sound, which he tended to pronounce as a broad "O." Which did not seriously hinder his performances in English; hear him, for example, in Britten's "War Requiem" and "Songs and Proverbs of William Blake" --

[@srothbardt]

Eine Meister