See: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau - Short Biography

BWV 159/157 Fischer-Dieskau

Francis Browne wrote (March 4, 2002):
Following Tom Braatz's very enthusiastic recommendation of Fischer-Dieskau's performance of Es ist vollbracht I made a point of finding the disc(EMI References ) on a recent visit to London.

Tom did not exaggerate .These are outstanding, revelatory performances not only of the aria from BWV 159 but also, among much else, of the bass aria from this week's cantata BWV 157 Ja, ja ich halte Jesum feste. There is a rightness, a quality of intelligent musicality about the singing that gives constant illumination and delight. As an added bonus the playing of the instrumentalists is also outstanding. Many thanks Tom.

As somebody who is exploring most of the cantatas for the first time through the Leusink cycle I find it most useful to hear such performances as Fischer-Dieskau's that reveal far more of the beauty in the cantatas than the Leusink performances generally achieve. Even an imperfect performance of Bach's music gives such delight that I suspect that in listening to CDs I am not alone in often taking what is for what can or should be . I shall continue to listen with much pleasure and gratitude to Leusink but it is good to be reminded of what a really excellent performancer can reveal.

Tom wrote that 'among all the recordings of Bach arias that I have heard, this one certainly would be at the top of my list of all-time favorites'. I would be very interested to know what recordings other members of the list would nominate for such an accolade.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: Short Biography | General Discussions