One of the 20th century's most questing and influential singers Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is celebrated above all for his extraordinary skill and insight in lieder. This complete collection of lieder and songs recorded for HMV, EMI Electrola, Teldec & Erato is brought together here for the very first time, showcasing not only his exceptional talent but also the evolution of his artistry and voice throughout his career, from 1951 to 1992. His relentless drive to renew the genre shines through as he explores a vast repertoire, from Schubert to Schoenberg, led by an unbounded curiosity that brought new dimensions to the art of singing. "... nobody could surely have prophesied that the singer would become such a prodigious phenomenon with a colossal achievement on record, never before matched and unlikely to be repeated in the future." Gramophone Magazine.
Perhaps no pair of singers on record has interpreted this cycle of 46 songs with such natural accomplishment as Irmgard Seefried and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. They made this recording near the end of the 1950s - at the height of Seefried's career and near the start of Fischer-Dieskau's, and it's qualities of both freshness and delight in response to the text and vocal beauty have stood the test of time. The singers performed the cycle together live at the 1958 Salzburg Festival to an ordering devised by the pianist for the occasion and Seefried's regular accompanist, Erik Werba. In the DG studios a few months later, however, Fischer-Dieskau was joined by his own regular instrumental partner at the time, Jorg Demus. Meanwhile the subtly different responses of both pianists - Werba fuller-toned than Demus, whose pointed articulation owes something to his work on 'period' instruments - offer food for both thought and pleasure. Without attempting to concoct a storyline, Werba's ordering allows the poetry's depictions of woman and man to contrast with and complement each other. A spirited opening group is followed by one which is predominantly lyrical, illustrating the need for love, the woman's surrender and then wavering, a manly longing for death, a farewell, and appeal to sworn fidelity. The closing section juxtaposes a declaration of love, humor, mockery, caricature, resignation and finally boasting, with the soprano's jubilant 'confession' that she has 21 lovers. All four musicians fully bring to life the emotions of elation, joy, anger and irony in Wolf's songs. Fischer-Dieskau's second recording (with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Gerald Moore for EMI) is justly famous in it's own right, but the magic of this DG recording lies in the unaffected ease of his partnership with Seefried.
On the eve of his centenary, the pianist/composer Cy Walter is commemorated with the 2 CD retrospective collection 'Sublimities' that honors his remarkable career and talents. Volume 1 focuses on rare recordings, radio appearances and solo performances remastered from original '78s of this dean of cocktail piano players. Considered one of the premier interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Walter considered himself a "stylist of show tunes" and the first volume presents a rare ringside seat to the many classic performances of Walters' early career. Bringing deserved attention to Walters' near 40 year career, the collection includes a 24 page booklet with essays by contemporary pianists and music historians including Michael Feinstein, Peter Mintun, Maggie Perrin, Richard Behrens, and more.
On the eve of his centenary, the pianist/composer Cy Walter's 2 CD retrospective commemoration continues with Volume 2 celebrating his remarkable career and talents focusing on Walter as accompanist and composer. Considered one of the premier interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Walter considered himself a "stylist of show tunes" and this second volume presents another rare collection of classic song performances with a staggering roster of guest performers attesting to the respect Walters' held among his peers including Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Mabel Mercer, Benny Goodman, Art Tatum, and more, Sublimities brings deserved attention to Walters' near 40 year career. With a 24 page booklet with essays by contemporary pianists and music historians including Michael Feinstein, Peter Mintun, Maggie Perrin, Richard Behrens, and more.
