Columbia SAXO 2485 (1963): Annie Fischer - Schumann and Liszt Concertos

Columbia SAXO 2485 (Australian press)

Robert Schumann: Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Franz Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E flat

Annie Fischer, piano

Philharmonia Orchestra

Otto Klemperer, conductor

Recorded May 22, 23, 24, 1960 and May 10, 1962

Matrix numbers: YAX 923-7 / 924-5 

My first introduction to the Hungarian pianist Annie Fischer (1914-1995) was in 2011 when I came across a copy of her EMI Artist Profile two CD compilation. Captivated by the beauty and lyricism of her playing, I was inspired to seek out more of her recordings. However, I learned that Fischer was not a fan of the recording studio and therefore did not leave behind a large legacy of recordings. The small number of discs she recorded for EMI and Deutsche Grammophon are highly sought after by collectors. It's not easy to get a hold of these.

Among the handful of solo and concerto albums that Fischer recorded for Columbia (EMI) in the early to mid 1960s is this beautiful disc of Schumann and Liszt piano concertos, performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Otto Klemperer's direction. According to Stephen Pettitt's Philharmonia discography, the Schumann was recorded on May 22, 23, and 24, 1960 and May 10, 1962, while the Liszt was recorded on May 24, 1960 and May 10, 1962. Why a span of two years separated the start and finish of this recording is unclear to me.

The copy I own is an Australian pressing with a blue/silver label that is very similar to that of the first UK pressing. I found it on Ebay for about $34 USD, which, while far from a bargain, is quite a bit less that the going prices for either the UK first pressing (with median and maximum prices of $80 and $386 USD, respectively) or second pressing (about $50-60 USD). Considering that the Australian pressing has UK matrix numbers and comes in the same jacket as the UK SAX, I am not complaining. 

To my ears, the performances of both concertos are splendid and first rate. Soundwise, there is much to enjoy here as well. The piano, positioned centrally in the soundstage, is very well recorded. Soloist and orchestra are nicely balanced, and with Klemperer at the helm, you can count on having distinct clarity of the orchestral textures. On my copy, I found the Liszt side to sound more forward, more transparent, and more dynamic -- in essence, more lifelike -- than the Schumann side. 

Excerpt from Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1:

Excerpt from Schumann's Piano Concerto: