Béla Fischer

For 40 years, Béla Fischer has been in demand as a musician in various musical genres – as a pianist, composer, musical director and arranger of shows, revues, ballets, operas, operettas or musicals.

Béla Fischer was born in Bratislava (Slovakia) and completed his studies in violin and composition with Dezider Kardoš at the Conservatory and the Music Academy in his hometown. After his initial orientation in the field of classical music, he soon discovered his love for jazz, rock, jazz-rock, musical and folklore.

In 1974 he founded the A. Moyses string quartet which received numerous national and international awards. Amongst others, he was also concertmaster and conductor of the award-winning folk ensemble Lúčnica. Already at the age of 20 he realised his own composition for full orchestra in classic rock style and was working in this connection with Marián Varga and the Collegium Musicum Bratislava. With the foundation of a (salon) orchestra in 1993, Béla Fischer turned also towards Vienna Waltz and operetta. Moreover, he composed some musicals, amongst others with Bernd Waldmann. In 2006 the premiere of »Schani« about Johann Strauß took place and in 2010 »Abschied von Sidonie«. In addition, he founded his own chamber orchestra and wrote, amongst several instrumental works, a »Requiem« which was performed in 2009 in Vienna and in 2011 in Budapest. He was also band leader and musical director in different theatres at home and abroad and could be experienced on television and radio. Other works were created in collaboration with the Lehár festival orchestra in Bad Ischl. In 2017 the world premiere of »Musical Concertante« for full orchestra and rock quartet took place within the framework of the Bratislava Music Festival (BHS). From 2006 to 2018 Béla Fischer’s opening fanfare was played at the Life Ball in Vienna. His collaboration with well-known artists comprises Dagmar Koller, Topsy Küppers, André Heller, Heinz Zednik, Paul Foster, Robert Meyer, Gerhard Ernst and Thomas Stroux.

As a ballet pianist Béla Fischer was active at the Ballett School of the Austrian Federal Theatres from 1985 to 1990, afterwards in the same position at the Vienna State Opera (1990–1993) and the Volksoper Vienna (since 1997). For the latter theatre he created numerous works in the field of composition and arrangement such as the ballets »Nudo«, »Alice in Wonderland« (both choreographies: Giorgio Madia), »Max and Moritz« (choreography: Ferenc Barbay & Michael Kropf), »Ein Reigen« (choreography: Ashley Page) and »City Life« (choreography: Michael Kropf). Furthermore, he took over the musical direction of »Häuptling Abendwind« (direction: Robert Meyer) and several soirees where he was also responsible for the arrangement.