Icon- Annie Fisher

[Barbirollians]

An 8 disc box is out shortly

http://http://www.amazon.co.uk/Annie-Fischer-Complete-London-Recordings/dp/B00I3LJQYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1395359273&sr=1-1&keywords=annie+fischer

I have all the three Mozart records - are the other 5 discs worth £21.34 ?

[Bryn]

An 8 disc box is out shortly

http://http://www.amazon.co.uk/Annie-Fischer-Complete-London-Recordings/dp/B00I3LJQYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1395359273&sr=1-1&keywords=annie+fischer

I have all the three Mozart records - are the other 5 discs worth £21.34 ?

Listing here.

Despite having a fair proportion of its content already, some of the items, especially by Beethoven and Schubert, looks enticing.

[amateur51]

I've got the lot but I do recommend newcomers to snap this box up - she was a wonderful pianist and artist

[Ferretfancy]

I've got the lot but I do recommend newcomers to snap this box up - she was a wonderful pianist and artist

Agreed absolutely! I was only lucky enough to see her once, and have tried to collect her recordings ever since. I love her Schumann playing in particular, and the Icon box also includes an extra special version of Bartok No. 3. I believe that she completed a Beethoven sonatas collection for Hungaroton, but did not approve them all for release, perhaps others will know more.

[amateur51]

Agreed absolutely! I was only lucky enough to see her once, and have tried to collect her recordings ever since. I love her Schumann playing in particular, and the Icon box also includes an extra special version of Bartok No. 3. I believe that she completed a Beethoven sonatas collection for Hungaroton, but did not approve them all for release, perhaps others will know more.

i understand exactly that Ferret re the Beethoven sonatas - she became a bit of a chain-smoking fuss-budget in recording that cycle so Hungaraton did a fair bit of editing from different takes to get something that was near-enough right. I learned all this from a Hungarian friend who knew her.

I was fortunate to see her 'live' on several occasions and what occasions they were. She often needed a piece or two to get her eye in, as it were, but always after the interval and frequently before she created some magical playing of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann etc. My friend told her about my description of her 'launching' Schumann Fantasie, sounding like a great ship in full sail. Apparently she roared with laughter and said "no, no, no, no NO!!"

[richardfinegold]

I've got the lot but I do recommend newcomers to snap this box up - she was a wonderful pianist and artist

I purchased many of the Sonata discs in the 1990s when they were issued by Hungaraton. I also have a set issued by EMI in France that contains many of her Mono recordings.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Just hearing Klemperer in Liszt 1st pf conc sounds well worth the money!

More seriously, I know 4 of the Mozart and the Schumann concerto, and have a passing acquaintance with three of the LvB sonatas via a very scratchy s/h LP, and shall definitely be investing

[gurnemanz]

Agreed absolutely! I was only lucky enough to see her once, and have tried to collect her recordings ever since. I love her Schumann playing in particular, and the Icon box also includes an extra special version of Bartok No. 3. I believe that she completed a Beethoven sonatas collection for Hungaroton, but did not approve them all for release, perhaps others will know more.

Coincidentally, the only time I saw Annie Fischer was in Bartok 3, (at the Gewandhaus with Kurt Masur - about 40 years ago but I have quite clear memories). I have a couple of LPs but to my surprise I do not own a single CD with her playing, so the box is tempting even though I have vowed to try and restrain myself.

[Barbirollians]

I have given in after playing her BBC Legends Brahms Piano Sonata No3 tonight - a quite stupendous reading .

[Barbirollians]

This is a splendid bargain . I know the Mozart concerto recordings so i have not given those a spin yet but the Beethoven sonatas strike me as especially fine , the Bartok 3 is no virtuoso show off performance and superbly accompanied by Markevitch - made me want to hear his Dance Suite with which it was originally coupled - the Schumann with Klemperer is rather grand and some of the horns seem to think it is Wagner but it is very enjoyable as is the Liszt 1 which is really different - Klemperer may have conducted very little of his work but he takes this very seriously.

The Schubert Impromptus are beautifully played the D960 seems to suffer from a rather harsh recording but the performance itself is very clear sighted . In fact, her playing is generally that entirely free of affectation .

Highly recommended.

[Barbirollians]

The Beethoven sonata performances in this box are a revelation . Such straightforward yet enormously musical playing . Everything speaks for itself . The Waldstein in particular strikes me as the best I have ever heard .