Almost 70 minutes of Fischer-Dieskau singing Schubert in his absolute prime at super-bargain price can't be bad, in spite of the absence of texts. The songs chosen – some outright favourites, others fine pieces the baritone helped to rescue from obscurity – make up a most desirable programme. As regards interpretation, Fischer-Dieskau is at his most softgrained and persuasive in the lyrical pieces, notably the rarely heard but most beautiful Nachtgesang, at his most melodramatic in the more forceful Lieder, culminating in a hairraising account of Erlkönig.
Moore is both sensitive and positive as the great baritone's partner, and contributes meaningfully to all the performances. EMI's recording of the period was wholly successful in catching the full tone of its singers.