I can't add much to the universal praise that this Emperor concerto has won from the day it was relwased in 1951. Besides being a great eprformance, it defies any stereotype that Furtwangler was grand, broad, and heavy in Beethoven. Those tendencies did creep intohis conducting in latter years, but just listen to this vigorous, alert, impetuous first movement and you will be swept away. Fischer can't quite muster perfect keyboard technique, but it hrdly matters. From the first bars of his solo introduction, you are aware of a great, original artist who never plays a note without total voncition. The same goes for the two sonatas that fill up the CD.
I jsut wanted to point out that this is one of Fischer's best-sounding recordings, caught in excellent, clear mono with full piano tone and no muffled clunkiness. The same can't be said for the 78s Fishcer made in the Thirites, and he sat out the war, mostly in silence, in Switzerland. So if you are unacquainted with this exceptional pianist, here's your chance to marvel.
