Helmuth Rilling - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sings Bach

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Helmuth Rilling

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sings Bach

Recording

1	Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sings Bach
Cantata BWV 56 Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen Cantata BWV 82 Ich habe genug
Helmuth Rilling
Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Bass - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Hänssler		1983	CD / TT: 44:05

What Drives you?

Peter Bright wrote (February 28, 2002):
For example, I went for a sandwich this lunchtime and I'm now cutting my teeth on a bargain price CD: "Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sings Bach" on Hanssler Classic. It's a performance of cantatas 56 & 82. Very nice too, although dear Dietrich was fairly advanced in years when he performed this one.

Kirk McElhearn wrote (February 28, 2002):
Ah, this one is nice. Believe it or not, I'm listening to it right now, as I go through the Haenssler complete cantatas for a review....

I'm pasting below my review of this, and Arleen Auger sings Bach on Hänssler as well. See: Arleen Augér sings Bach

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau sings Bach [44.05]

Cantata BWV 56 Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen
Cantata BWV 82 Ich habe genug

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, bass

Gächinger Kantorei
Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmut Rilling

Rec: 1983.
Hanssler CD 94.029 [44.05]

Few singers have as varied a repertory as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau – not only has he left an indelible mark on the German lieder, but he is also an excellent opera singer and a magnificent performer of Bachąs sacred vocal works. This recording features two cantatas for bass. These are two of Bachąs most beautiful cantatas, and these performances by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau are among the best available.

Cantata BWV 56, Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, is a very moving work, which contains a series of arias and recitatives for solo bass and a final choral movement. This is the fourth recording Fischer-Dieskau made of this work, and one can hear in his voice a mastery of the music and content. His voice is less flexible and colourful than in the three previous recordings of this work, but he remains, nevertheless, the standard by which other singers of this cantata are measured. The third section of the cantata is perhaps the most beautiful, as Fischer-Dieskau sings in dialogue with an oboe obbligato and a subtle orchestral accompaniment.

Cantata BWV 82, Ich habe genug, is another cantata for solo bass, but which is also sung at times by soprano or alto. This is another cantata that Fischer-Dieskau recorded several times; this is his third and final recording of this work. The opening aria of this cantata, itself called Ich habe genug - again with oboe obbligato - is one of Bachąs most dramatic and moving arias. The other long aria in this cantata, Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen, is one of the longest arias in Bachąs cantatas (over 9 minutes here), and is a song full of joy and hope. As in cantata BWV 56, Fischer-Dieskau has staked out territory that almost belongs to him – his voice is perfect for this music, and, while his earlier recordings might be a bit more energetic, he applies his long experience to this work, and sings in a heart-rending manner. Fischer-Dieskau again shows his effortless command of this music.

There is only one negative comment that can be made about this disc - it is too short! At just over 44 minutes, I definitely wanted to hear more. Alas, there are only two cantatas on this recording, but, given its budget price, it is a must. Anyone who appreciates the magnificent Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, or Bachąs moving sacred cantatas, should get this disc.

Peter Bright wrote (February 28, 2002):
[To Kirk McElhearn] Thank you Kirk,

Your notes make a nice companion for my appreciation of this disc.

Kirk McElhearn wrote (February 28, 2002):
[To Peter Bright] Thanks!

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Last update: ýJuly 14, 2003 ý00:01:23