Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2

Edwin Fischer represented an ideal middle ground between objective intellectualism and unabashed romanticism. Two contrasting figures proved highly influential on the young Swiss pianist's development: Ferruccio Busoni, whose classical approach Fischer greatly appreciated, and that wildly romantic sprit, Eugen d' Albert Fischer viewed the differing philosophies of these two great artists as complementary to one another and was able to incorporate aspects of both into his own playing His interpretations were always logically thought out, yet, ultimately, guided by the heart and the ear.

Born in Basel, Switzerland on 6th October, 1886, Fischer's musical talent became evident at an early age when only four years old he struck a note on the piano and stated, correctly, "This is G." The following year his father died, leaving Fischer's mother to take charge of his musical training In 1896 Fischer began formal studies at the Basel Conservatory. He moved to Berlin in 1904 with his mother and enrolled at the Stern Conservatory, studying piano with Martin Krause, who was one of Liszt's last pupils and later the principal teacher of Claudio Arrau. Over the next several decades Fischer slowly built up a reputation as one of Europe's leading pianists, often collaborating with the continent's most important conductors, including Nikisch, Mengelberg and Furtwaengler Fischer was also a sought-after chamber musician, and even formed a highly successful trio with violinist Georg Kulenkampff and cellist Enrico Mainardi (Wolfgang Schneiderhan joined the trio after Kulenkampff's death in 1948). It was at this same time that he created the Edwin Fischer Chamber Orchestra As leader of the ensemble, Fischer did not limit himself solely to conducting concertos from the keyboard; symphonic works by Haydn, Mozart and others were frequently programmed.