Baritone Benjamin Appl pays tribute to his mentor, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, whose centenary we celebrate in 2025. “The first time I heard his voice was at school when I was twelve. In 2009, I applied for his master class at the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg which was the start of a long and transformative relationship. I was fortunate to work with him on my entire repertoire over countless hours in his homes in Berlin and Berg.”This album, a CD-book of 140 pages with personal text written by Appl alongside numerous previously unpublished photos and letters, offers us a glimpse into who Fischer-Dieskau was as a person, outside of his obvious public successes and accolades. The repertoire in this touching recording is structured to reflect the major stages of his life and includes compositions by family members Albert and Klaus Fischer-Dieskau, repertoire he sang as a soldier during WW2 and as a POW in Italy, commissions composed especially for him through to favourite Lieder by Schubert.

Tracklist:

1. An die Musik, D547
2. Sesenheim~Heidenrslein
3. Nocturne I, Op. 1/1~(Excerpt)
4. Wehmut, Op. 3/2
5. Wie bist du, meine Knigin, Op. 32/9
6. Andenken
7. Einfache Lieder, Op. 9~No. 4 Liebesbriefchen
8. Strophe aus ‘Die Gtter Griechenlands’, D677
9. Tenebrae
10. Schner Abend, L. 84
11. Sylvelin, Op. 55/1
12. Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, Op. 6/6
13. Ich bin nur ein armer Wandergesell
14. Ach, die Augen sind es wieder
15. Heimkehr
16. Aus Schmerzen und Freuden geboren, Op. 22/1
17. Kindes Schlaf
18. An mein Klavier, D342
19. Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, Op. 74~Proverb III
20. Ses Begrbnis, Op. 62/4
21. Mutterns Hndes
22. Vater braucht ene Frau~Excerpt
23. Liebhaber in allen Gestalten, D558
24. Liebst du um Schnheit, Op. 12/2
25. War Requiem, Op. 66~Hrnersang
26. Now I Have Fed and Eaten Up the Rose
27. Green Lowland of Pianos
28. O Boundless, Boundless Evening
29. An die Laute, D905
30. Sterb’ ich, so hllt in Blumen meine Glieder
31. Meine Lieder, meine Snge, Op. 15/1
32. Requiem, Op. 90/7

UPC: 3701624511312
Label: Alpha
Release Date: 6.20.25
Format: CD