Wednesday 26th September 2012, 19.30
Film Screening with an introduction by the director

Sopracenerina Hall, Locarno
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Free Entrance

A profile of the great German baritone, who has recently passed away.

(Prix Video de l’Académie Charles Cros, 1998 – Prix Francois Reichenbach, Orphée de Lyrique en Images, 1998)

“In Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau's case, the identification has to do with the whole vast realm of the German Lied, the innermost recesses of which he has explored. A field that one cannot even mention without making a reference to him, for generations to come. Lieder, he has recorded by the thousands, as well as French, Scandinavian and Russian songs; along with these, he has also sung nearly a hundred Opera parts from all epochs, and countless Cantatas and Oratorios…
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is not only a singer, but also a phenomenal actor; while the piano alone brings a song to its conclusion, his most minute motions - be it a simple shudder of his eye-brow, or the closing of his eyes - accurately reflect the harmonic structure, the exact rythmic and emotional mood of the music. One can feel his intense presence while he interprets silence. A camera which rejects distraction can then capture a moment of magic.
At the beginning of January 1993, I received a brief letter from Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: "The hour of a sad truth has come: from this day, I finish my appearances, public courses and recording sessions. As you can think, this is no easy resolution. But after 45 years of uninterrupted work, I may well obey this categorical imperative”. The most sumptuous singer of our century had imposed silence on his song. It was now time to discover the man behind the tremendous artist; the present portrait was filmed during the two years that followed.”
Bruno Monsaingeon.

For more information on the Film Cycle click here