Re: Fischer-Dieskau: a "real" baritone?

On Jul 31, 12:35 am, "david7ga...@xxxxxxx" <david7ga...@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

During a session at which one of their shared scenes was recorded (not
sure which of the two), Tebaldi was alleged to have asked someone --
not meanly but in bafflement -- "What is this Fischer-Dieskau
*doing*?"

The way I heard the story it was even funnier than that. I don't
think she quite realized who he was, and she mangled his name with a
heavy Italian accent. (I wish I could find exactly what she said,
assuming that I'm right and assuming that this actually happened at
all.)

The version I read (never mind how someone could have overheard this
to report it) is that Tebaldi asked Bergonzi in bafflement -- and
apologies for messing up the vowel endings in a language I've not
studied -- "Ma, que *fa* questo Discher-Fieskau??"

(By the way, my answer to the original question is that the "problem"
stems from, in an odd way, a good cause: Not having the expected rich
dark baritone for the role of Germont, F-D doesn't try to imitate that
sound but sings the role with his own voice without manipulation to
[try to] make it sound heavier; so it's a lighter, headier, more tenor-
like approach than most, although I believe that there was a German
tradition of casting a Kavalierbariton like him or Prey or Huesch in
the role.)

JAC

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