No lieder singer of the second half of of the final century has solid a longer shadow on subsequent generations than Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Even singers who by no methodology studied with the gigantic baritone acknowledge his affect, but for Benjamin Appl the link became far more whine: after attending a masterclass that Fischer-Dieskau gave in Austria in 2009, Appl turned Fischer-Dieskau’s final pupil, working with him up to his death three years later.

The centenary tribute that Appl has build collectively to his trainer with pianist James Baillieu is thoughtful and handsomely produced. The disc of 32 songs is well chosen to contemplate every stage in Fischer-Dieskau’s lifestyles, from his childhood, through his years as a soldier and prisoner of war at some level of the second world war, the regular upward curve of his profession through the 1950s and 60s, to the eminence of his later years. . Packaged within a lavishly illustrated hardback e book, it moreover contains one of the crucial indispensable works that had been aloof specially for him. Schubert is predictably well represented in the sequence, Schumann, Brahms and Wolf with out be aware reasonably much less so, and Richard Strauss no longer all, even supposing there are songs by Eisler and Bruno Walter, and by Fischer-Dieskau’s father Albert and brother Klaus. With out ever aping his infamous mentor, Appl’s performances have the identical consideration to part, each and every verbal and musical, even supposing his tone in most cases takes on a laborious, reasonably acid edge; it’s a grand, heartfelt tribute and Fischer-Dieskau’s legions of fans gained’t hesitate.

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