Description

EDWIN FISCHER (BASEL, OCTOBER 6, 1886 – ZÜRICH, JANUARY 24, 1960)

 

 

 

 

Fischer was born in Basel and studied music first there, and later in Berlin at the Stern conservatory under Martin Krause. He first came to prominence as a pianist following World War I. In 1926, he became conductor of the Lübeck Musikverein and later conducted in Munich. In 1932, he formed his own chamber orchestra, and was one of the first to be interested in presenting music of the Baroque and Classical periods in a historically accurate way. Although his performances were not historically accurate by present-day standards, they were for his time; e.g., he did conduct Bach and Mozart concertos from the keyboard, an unusual practice at that time. In 1932, he returned once again to Berlin, succeeding his great contemporary Artur Schnabel in a teaching role at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik after Schnabel’s exile (he was Jewish, and Fischer was not) from Nazi Germany. In 1942, he moved back to Switzerland, temporarily putting his career on hold through World War II. After the war he began to perform again, and gave master classes in Lucerne for a number of later prominent pianists such as Alfred Brendel, Helena Sá e Costa, Mario Feninger, Reine Gianoli, Paul Badura-Skoda and Daniel Barenboim. As well as solo recitals, concerto performances and conducting, Fischer performed much chamber music. Particularly highly regarded was the piano trio he formed with the cellist Enrico Mainardi and the violinist Georg Kulenkampff (who was replaced by Wolfgang Schneiderhan after Kulenkampff’s death). Fischer published a number of books on teaching, and one on the piano sonatas of Beethoven. Fischer also accompanied Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in a renowned 1950s EMI LP of Schubert Lieder. His last musical collaboration was with the violinist Gioconda de Vito. During their recording sessions for the Brahms first and third violin sonatas, he had to go to London for medical treatment, where he was told he was seriously ill. He died shortly afterwards in Zurich.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

  

1834 BACH – Prelude and Fugue, c# (WTC – Book 1, No. 4, S. 849)

1836 BACH – Prelude and Fugue, D (WTC – Book 1, No. 5, S. 850)

1837 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 13, c “Pathétique” 1st mvt.

1838 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 13, c “Pathétique” 2nd mvt.

1838 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 13, c “Pathétique” 3rd mvt.

1839 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 10, No. 3, D 1st mvt.

1839 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 10, No. 3, D2nd mvt.

1840 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 10, No. 3, D 3rd mvt.

1840 WELTE-MIGNON BEETHOVEN – Piano Sonata, Op. 10, No. 3, D 4th mvt.