Composer: Johannes Brahms, Franz Peter Schubert, Robert Schumann
Performer: Edwin Fischer
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: APR
Catalogue: APR7314
Release: 2022
Size: 569 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Intermezzo. Allegro ma non troppo
03. III. Andante con moto
04. IV. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto
Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
05. I. Allegro maestoso
06. II. Andante espressivo
07. III. Scherzo. Allegro energico
08. IV. Intermezzo. Andante molto
09. V. Finale. Allegro moderato ma rubato
CD 02
01. Brahms: Intermezzo in B-Flat Minor, Op. 117 No. 2
02. Brahms: Ballade in G minor, Op. 118 No. 3
03. Brahms: Intermezzo in E-Flat Major, Op. 117 No. 1
04. Brahms: Rhapsody in G minor, Op. 79 No. 2
Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
05. I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen
06. II. Mäßig. Durchaus energisch
07. III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Schubert: 6 Moments Musicaux, op. 94, D. 780
08. No. 1 in C Major, Moderato
09. No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Andantino
10. No. 3 in F Minor, Allegro moderato
11. No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, Moderato
12. No. 5 in F Minor, Allegro vivace
13. No. 6 in A-Flat Major, Allegretto
CD 03
Schubert: 4 Impromptus, op. 90, D. 899
01. No. 1 in C Minor, Allegro molto moderato
02. No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Allegro
03. No. 3 in G-Flat Major, Andante (Transcr. for G Major)
04. No. 4 in A-Flat Major, Allegretto
Schubert: 4 Impromptus, op. 142, D. 935
05. No. 1 in F Minor, Allegro moderato
06. No. 2 in A-Flat Major, Allegretto
07. No. 3 in B-Flat Major, Theme & Variations
08. No. 4 in F Minor, Allegro scherzando
Schubert: Fantasie in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 “Wanderer”
09. I. Allegro con fuoco ma non troppo
10. II. Adagio
11. III. Presto
12. IV. Allegro
This release features some of Fischer’s best-known recordings and also his rarest. His pre-war Schubert recordings are classics of the gramophone and have been almost continuously available. APR’s original 1997 transfers of the Impromptus had the benefit of being taken from vinyl pressings of the 78rpm masters and this reissue has allowed us to improve them even further, presenting these gems in the best possible sound.
Fischer’s recordings of Brahms and Schumann, on the other hand are much less known and indeed his masterly performance of the 1st Brahms Piano Quartet, recorded in Germany just after the start of the war with principals from the Edwin Fischer Chamber Orchestra, and only issued there, is extremely rare.
Not much better known are the very fine Brahms group from 1947, and from 1949 we have the Brahms F minor Sonata and the Schumann Fantasy, his only Schumann recording, but a work he described as “a symbol of the soul of the piano”.