German lyrical singer Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, among the top baritones of the 20th century and especially acclaimed for his interpretation of lieder, has died at his home in Bavaria. He was 86.

Fischer-Dieskau died Friday, his wife Julia Varady announced, less than two weeks before his 87th birthday.

The versatile singer and extraordinarily prolific recording artist was a familiar face at opera houses worldwide, performing in Berlin, Vienna, London and New York. However, he earned widespread praise and is best remembered for his interpretation of lieder, German songs written for a solo vocalist and piano.

His devotion to and pursuit of excellence in presenting the genre was considered a significant factor in increasing lieder's popularity. His numerous recordings set a benchmark for subsequent artists.

Overall, however, Fischer-Dieskau's recordings spanned a wide-ranging repertoire, with scores of his lieder performances, opera roles, choral concerts and recitals released over the years.

He "deeply moved countless people around the world for more than half a century through hundreds of concerts and recordings," said German Culture Minister Bernd Neumann. For Canadian baritone Gerald Finley, Fischer-Dieskau "made it seem effortless and natural. To hear him live was the greatest thrill and inspiration."

Enlisted to sing

Born in Berlin in 1925, Fischer-Dieskau studied music under Georg Walter and Hermann Weissenborn.

During the Second World War, the teenaged singer was drafted into the Germany army and, after his capture, spent two years as a prisoner of war in Italy. There, his talents were discovered and he was enlisted to perform at the American-run PoW camps.

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, seen in 1972, was a prolific recording artist, with hundreds of his lieder performances, opera roles and choral concerts released over the years. (Erich Auerbach/Getty Images)

Upon his release, he returned to Germany and launched into a singing career. He made his opera debut in Berlin in the late 1940s and, within a few years, was performing at the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival.

Later, he expanded to performing international engagements, including at London's Covent Garden and Royal Opera House, New York's Carnegie Hall and the Edinburgh Festival and in Japan.

One of his most cherished collaborators was celebrated British-born, Canadian-raised pianist Gerald Moore.

Fischer-Dieskau's singing drew the attention of composer Benjamin Britten, who wrote specific portions of his War Requiem for the singer and asked him to perform the world premiere in May 1962.

"Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau was a giant, a leading light in the world of art song," said Leila Getz, artistic director of the Vancouver Recital Society.

"Part of his legacy has been to instill in singers of the future that less is more. When Fischer-Dieskau sang, he disappeared into the music. It's my idea of heaven, and it's a quality to which every musician should aspire."

Before his retirement in 1992, Fischer-Dieskau helped reinvigorate the esteemed Salzburg Festival.

In addition to his singing career, he also conducted, taught music and was an aspiring writer, publishing a memoir entitled Echoes of Lifetime in 1987.

Fischer-Dieskau is survived by his wife, the soprano Varady, and three children from a previous marriage.