Benjamin Appl pays tribute to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012) with ‘For Dieter: The Past and The Future’

The CD is accompanied by a 140-page book written by Appl, which features personal stories, historical insights and previously unpublished information about the legendary baritone whose centenary is celebrated in 2025

Baritone Benjamin Appl dedicates the album 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 years old. 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.”

The CD-Book contains a personal text written by Appl alongside numerous previously unpublished photos and letters, which offer us a glimpse into who Fischer-Dieskau was as a person, outside of his obvious public successes and accolades.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 World War II and as a Prisoner of War in Italy, commissions composed especially for him through to favourite Lieder by Schubert. Appl is joined by one of his regular collaborators, pianist James Baillieu.

Excerpt from the book’s prologue

“I was very nervous when, on 1 September 2009, I went on stage in front of a full audience to work with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau for the first time. After the four-day course he sent for me, gave me his personal contact details and offered me the opportunity to study with him privately. From that moment onwards I had the incredible fortune of working with him on my entire repertoire for countless hours at his homes in Berlin and Berg until just a few weeks before his death. To this day I regard this experience as one of the greatest gifts of my professional life. It is thanks to curating this 100th anniversary celebratory album and related concerts that I have been able to spend countless hours over the past months and years studying an immense number of his letters, contracts, programmes, diary entries, photo albums and books. These were very personal moments for me, as they brought me closer not only to Fischer-Dieskau the artist but even more so to the man himself; they sharpened my memories of character traits I knew so well and also allowed me to observe new facets of his multi-layered personality. This project is intended to provide a subjective representation of Fischer-Dieskau as well as to give an insight into the man behind all the great successes and accolades, and onto what moved him and what shaped him as a human being.”

Benjamin Appl

BBC Radio 3: Sunday Feature on Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau presented by Benjamin Appl

Sunday 25 May, 7.15pm

For the 100th anniversary of Dieter’s birth, Benjamin Appl presents a personal tribute to his mentor and friend. He delves into previously unpublished letters and diaries to get behind the heroic gure and paint a complex portrait of Dieter through his inner thoughts and feelings, from his time ghting in WW2 to his symbolic performance in Britten’s War Requiem. Dieter became a powerful cultural icon in post-war Britain, and Benjamin Appl talks to some of those who knew him best to shed light on his enduring importance beyond the world of German Art Song. With contributions from Sir John Rutter, Brigitte Fassbaender and Christophe Eschenbach.

For Dieter: The Past and the Future

Hommage à Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Benjamin Appl, baritone

James Baillieu, piano

CD-Book Release Date: 23 May 2025