Annie Fischer

[Conchis]

I'd never paid that much attention to this pianist - one of the big names of the 50s and 60s - until recently.

Currently, I'm listening to some live recordings she made at the Edinburgh Festival in 1959 - Liszt and Dohnanyi; stunning playing, that takes the roof off the Usher Hall.

What are her most memorable recordings, those who know? I'd be particularly interested in any Bartok she recorded, because the 3rd PC on these discs (with Markevtich and the LSO) is revelatory!

[Bryn]

Another 3rd, that by Beethoven (with Fricsay at the helm) is very much to be recommended, if you can find it. I first got it on a Heliodor LP for less than £1.

[pastoralguy]

Another 3rd, that by Beethoven (with Fricsay at the helm) is very much to be recommended, if you can find it. I first got it on a Heliodor LP for less than £1.

I had that very Lp and it accompanied all my 'O' level revision study sessions. A performance I love very much if only because I played it so many times!

[Barbirollians]

I had that very Lp and it accompanied all my 'O' level revision study sessions. A performance I love very much if only because I played it so many times!

The best Beethoven 3 on record IMO - available for download and I found a CD coupling with its original Mozart Rondos from Amazon France which was a Japanese import I think.

Quite marvellous record . The BBC Legends recitals are well worth getting too and the Icon Box - which includes particularly lovely recordings of Mozart concertos with Boult and Sawallisch .

The Schumann with Keilberth and its couplings are special too .

[Barbirollians]

There is also a live Bartok 3 coupled with the sensational live Fricsay Pathetique on Orfeo - just as exciting as the Markevitch I would dare to say .

[kea]

Her BBC Legends recording of the Schumann Fantasy and Kreisleriana is stunning—the piano sound is percussive and quite dry at times, almost anti-Romantic, but her shaping of the larger phrases and supreme control of keyboard touch makes the music come alive and at times sound startlingly modern. I've heard very few pianists who have her command of the variety of touch. It's a recording I listen to often.

She did not want the Beethoven piano sonata cycle released during her lifetime, probably because it is full of very obvious edits pieced together from performances up to a decade apart. I do think enough of her artistry comes through to make it a valuable document though; she had a natural feeling for Beethoven that makes the splice-performances quite attractive.

[Bryn]

The best Beethoven 3 on record IMO - available for download and I found a CD coupling with its original Mozart Rondos from Amazon France which was a Japanese import I think. ...

[richardfinegold]

Her BBC Legends recording of the Schumann Fantasy and Kreisleriana is stunning—the piano sound is percussive and quite dry at times, almost anti-Romantic, but her shaping of the larger phrases and supreme control of keyboard touch makes the music come alive and at times sound startlingly modern. I've heard very few pianists who have her command of the variety of touch. It's a recording I listen to often.

She did not want the Beethoven piano sonata cycle released during her lifetime, probably because it is full of very obvious edits pieced together from performances up to a decade apart. I do think enough of her artistry comes through to make it a valuable document though; she had a natural feeling for Beethoven that makes the splice-performances quite attractive.

Edits and all, it's the most satisfying complete cycle of the 32 that I've heard.