Global Fascinations and Sophistications

Annie Fischer

When I first heard Annie Fischer in recital at the Royal Festival Hall, London, Sir Clifford Curzon was close to falling out of his seat with red-faced emotion, whilst on the other side of the stalls area was a group of Julliard students wondering at her secrets. Behind were Stephen Kovacevich and Ann Schein listening for the interpretative insights.

Annie Fischer played the Schubert Sonata in B flat that Sunday afternoon; on this Montreal 1984 live recording it is the A major, D959 - far more difficult with its leaping first movement gestures and that 'crazy' cadenza in the second interrupting solemn contemplations. She really goes off the rails in both, but recovers sublimely to do honours to the third and fourth movements. The truth is all-important. Thank heavens to escape from the edited studio sessions and hear real interpretation.

Mozart, another speciality, shines through divinely in the F major Sonata, K332, seemingly 'improvised' for her listeners, but Schumann's Carnival is one of those spontaneous interpretations that take the breath away [listen - tracks 26 & 27 - 0:00-0:20 & 0:00-0:40].

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