Fischer-Dieskau, Dietrich (b Berlin, 1925). Ger. baritone and conductor. Stage début Berlin State Opera 1948 (Posa in Don Carlos). Rapidly became one of world's leading singers, outstanding in Lieder and in wide range of operatic roles from the Count in Le nozze di Figaro to Falstaff, Wozzeck, Don Giovanni, Sachs, Mittenhofer in f.p. of Henze's Elegy for Young Lovers, and Lear in f.p. of Reimann's Lear. Salzburg Fest. début 1951; Eng. début 1951 (concert); CG 1965; Bayreuth 1954; NY 1955 (recital); Vienna State Opera from 1957. First singer of bar. role in Britten's War Requiem, Coventry 1962, and Tippett's The Vision of St Augustine, London 1966. Took up cond. 1973. Author of books on Schubert, Schumann, and relationship between Nietzsche and Wagner. His memoirs were pubd. in Stuttgart 1987 and in Eng. trans. (Echoes of a Lifetime) 1989. Retired 1992. Gave last perf. 31 Dec. 1992 at Nat. Th., Munich.

Fischer-Dieskau, Dietrich (1925– ) German baritone. One of the foremost operatic singers of the 20th century, and an outstanding interpreter of Lieder. He was an extremely versatile singer, appearing in recitals, as soloist with orchestras, in operatic roles and on numerous recordings.