Every now and then, I will hear a performer who stands out from the crowd. I remember feeling that way about Chihiro Onitsuka. Recently I stumbled upon the amazing recordings of concert pianist Annie Fischer. She was Hungarian and a child prodigy. Very few of her recordings were released during her lifetime because she did not like the sterility of studio sound. After her death in 1995, all of her recordings of the Beethoven sonatas were released. They are anything but sterile. Instead they possess power and beauty. I think the only pianist who is in the same league as her when it comes to interpreting Beethoven is Arthur Schnabel. There have been many fine recordings of the 32 sonatas. Hers are like a revelation.
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