Fischer, György (1935- )

Hungarian-born Austrian conductor and pianist. He studied in Budapest and Salzburg, was assistant to Karajan at Vienna, and conducted operas by Mozart there. He led the Cologne Opera from 1973, and conducted many performances of Mozart with the producer Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. His British debut was with the Welsh National Opera in 1973, with Die Zauberflöte/The Magic Flute, and he has returned for Die Entführung aus dem Serail/The Abduction from the Seraglio, Le Nozze di Figaro/The Marriage of Figaro, and Così fan tutte/Thus Do All Women. He made his London debut in 1979, in a concert performance of Mozart's Mitridate. He has led the English Chamber Orchestra since 1980 and has given concerts widely in Europe and South America. As a pianist he is often heard as an accompanist to leading singers. He conducted Così fan tutte for the Australian Opera in 1987.