Annie Fischer

ANNIE FISCHER
Hungarian pianist (1914-1995)

Annie Fischer was a pupil of Ernő Dohnányi at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in her native Budapest. She was greatly admired by the conductor Otto Klemperer. Sviatoslav Richter wrote, "Annie Fischer is a great artist imbued with a spirit of greatness and genuine profundity." And Maurizio Pollini praised her "childlike simplicity, immediacy and wonder."

Annie Fischer's Beethoven reigns supreme. Her performances of the piano sonatas are stunning. Just listen to the first movement of Op 2 number 3, and the "Hammerklavier" which sizzles without being ponderous. It is not, after all, named "The Anvil'. And yet, she herself did not think these recording quite perfect enough to be released, and they were not until after her death. I can hardly imagine to what inner ideal she compared them to and found them lacking.

But perhaps the most exquisite performance here is that of the Schubert B♭ major sonata. It is certainly one of the very finest I have heard of this glorious work.

Follow this link for performances by Annie Fischer in concerti by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Bartók.

Handel Chaconne in G major

Haydn Andante with variations in F minor, Hob XVII:6

recorded in 1958

Mozart Piano Sonata 10 in C major, K 330

i Allegro moderato
06:23 ➢ ii Andante cantabile
14:29 ➢ iii Allegretto

recorded in 1951

Mozart Piano Sonata 14 in C minor, K 457

i Allegro
06:23 ➢ ii Adagio
14:29 ➢ iii Molto allegro

recorded live in 1971

Schubert Impromptus, Op 142 in F minor, OP 142 (D 935)

2 in A♭ major

3 in B♭ major [rec live in 1951]

4 in F minor [rec in 1957 or 1964]

Schubert Piano Sonata in B♭ major, D 960

i Molto moderato
13:25 ➢ ii Andante sostenuto
23:34 ➢ iii Scherzo - Allegro vivace con delicatezza
27:41 ➢ iv Allegro, ma non troppo

recorded in 1968

Mendelssohn Rondo Capriccioso, Op 14

Chopin Ballade 1 in G minor, Op 23

recorded live in 1951

Chopin Scherzo 3 in C♯ minor, Op 39

Chopin Waltz 6 in D♭ major, Op 64~1 "Minute"

Chopin Fantaisie-Impromptu in C♯ minor, Op posth (Op 66)

recorded ca1955

Schumann Carnaval, Op 9

recorded live in 1963

Schumann Kinderszenen. Op 15

recorded live in 1986

Schumann Kreisleriana, Op 16

recorded in 1966

Schumann Fantaisie, Op 17

recorded live in 1956

Liszt 3 "Un Sospiro" from Trois Études de Concert

recorded in 1961

Liszt Grande Étude de Paganini 6

Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody 14

recorded live in 1951

Liszt Sonata in B minor

recorded in 1953

Brahms Piano Sonata in F minor, Op 5

i Allegro maestoso
08:34 ➢ ii Andante. Andante espressivo
20:00 ➢ iii Scherzo - Allegro energico
23:35 ➢ iv Intermezzo - Andante molto
27:31 ➢ iv Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato