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
Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor Op. 25 (Brahms)
Allegro
Intermezzo: Allegro, ma non troppo
Andante con moto
Rondo alla Zingarese: Presto
with Vittorio Brero (violin), Rudolf Nel (viola), Theo Schürgers (cello)
9 September 1939
2RA 4103-1, 4104-2, 4105-1, 4106-1, 4107-1, 4108-2, 4109-1, 4110-2, 4111-3 (Electrola DB5532/6)
Piano Sonata No 3 in F minor Op. 5 (Brahms)
Allegro maestoso
Andante espressivo
Scherzo: Allegro energico
Intermezzo (Rückblick): Andante molto
Finale: Allegro moderato ma rubato
30 May 1949
2EA 13888-1, 13889-1, 13890-1, 13891-1, 13892-1, 13893-1 (HMV DB21213/5; LP BLP1017)
Intermezzo in B-Flat Minor, Op. 117 No. 2 (Brahms) 21 February 1947 2EA 11656-1 (HMV DB6478)
Ballade in G Minor, Op. 118 No. 3 (Brahms) 21 February 1947 2EA 11655-1 (HMV DB6437)
Intermezzo in E-Flat Major, Op. 117 No. 1 (Brahms) 21 February 1947 2EA 11660-1 (HMV DB6478)
Rhapsody in G Minor, Op. 79 No. 2 (Brahms) 21 February 1947 2EA 11659-2 (HMV DB6437)
Fantasie in C major Op. 17 (Schumann)
Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen
Mäßig: Durchaus energisch
Langsam getragen: Durchweg leise zu halten
30 & 31 May 1949
2EA 13894-1, 13895-1, 13907-1, 13908-1, 13909-3, 13910-1 (HMV DB6959/61)
Moments musicaux D780 (Op. 94) (Schubert)
No 1 in C major: Moderato
No 2 in A flat major: Andantino
No 3 in F minor: Allegro moderato
No 4 in C sharp minor: Moderato
No 5 in F minor: Allegro vivace
No 6 in A flat major: Allegretto
18 May 1950
2EA 14715-1, 14716-1, 14717-2, 14718-1, 14719-1, 14720-1C (HMV DB21551, 21568 & 21578; LP ALP103)
Four Impromptus D899 (Op. 90) (Schubert)
No 1 in C minor: Allegro molto moderato
No 2 in E flat major: Allegro
No 3 in G flat major: Andante performed in G major in this recording
No 4 in A flat major: Allegretto
8 & 9 March 1938
2EA 6129-1, 6130-1, 4842-2, 6131-2, 6126-1, 6127-2 (HMV DB3484/6)
Four Impromptus D935 (Op. 142) (Schubert)
No 1 in F minor: Allegro moderato
No 2 in A flat major: Allegretto
No 3 in B flat major: Andante
No 4 in F minor: Allegro scherzando
8 March 1938
2EA 6120-3, 6121-1, 6122-1, 6123-1, 6125-1, 6124-3 (HMV DB3487/9)
Grosse Fantasie ‘Wanderer’ D760 (Op. 15) (Schubert)
Allegro con fuoco, ma non troppo
Adagio
Presto
Allegro
22 & 24 May 1934
2B 7227-2, 7228-2, 7229-1, 7230-1, 7231-4, 7232-3 (HMV DB2276/8)
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