Testimonials

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Violin – Gidon Kremer, Gil Shaham, Lyndon Taylor, Peter Marsh, George Orner
ViolaGeraldine Walther, Jan Karlin
CelloNathaniel Rosen, Evan Drachman, John Koenig, Lars Hoefs


Gidon KremerFROM GIDON KREMER
Dear Mr. Fischer!
Last night I had the privilege to play your instrument – the copy of Paganini’s!
Let me say – you not only made my day (the circumstances were quite dramatic!), but I really had a lot of pleasure exploring all the overtones as well the strength of your work. Bravo!
Sincerely yours, G. Kremer


Gidon Kremer Strad ArticleFROM THE STRAD MAGAZINE
April 2004 – Vol.115 No.1367/1368 – pg.345

Gidon Kremer Mislays His ‘Del Gesù’
It must be heartbreaking to watch your violin disappear into the sunset without you, but that’s what happened to Gidon Kremer, recently, with his 1730 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, worth around $3m.

The violinist was travelling to Baltimore by train and spent the journey organising a tour of Asia by his group, Kremerata. When he arrived in Baltimore, he says that he was focused on remembering to pick up a pencil from the table; it was only at Baltimore station that somebody noticed that his violin was still on the train, which was by then speeding towards Washington.

Kremer carried on to a rehearsal of the Sibelius Concerto with the Baltimore Symphony, playing on a copy of Paganini’s ‘Cannon’ by J. Michael G. Fischer, and by the end of the rehearsal the violin was backstage waiting for him, Amtrak having located it and sent it back.

Playing the instrument again, Kremer says, ‘I had the impression that the ‘del Gesù’ I knew so well had added some features and sounded more powerful than usual. Maybe that was an illusion — isn’t any love story?’


Gil ShahamFROM GIL SHAHAM
To Michael Fischer,
Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed playing your violin which Mr. Feldman brought yesterday. It’s easily one of the best modern instruments I’ve tried. It has a wonderful quality of sound and is a treat to play.
All Best Wishes,  Gil Shaham


FROM GERALDINE WALTHER
“Having retired from my job as violist of the Takacs Quartet last May, it was hard to return the beautiful Guadagnini viola that had been on loan to me as long as I held that position.  I kind of felt that my playing life was over.

Recently though, on a trip to Los Angeles, I had the chance to meet Michael Fischer and get to know his great instruments and acquire one for myself.  I was immediately drawn to the rich, dark and sweet sound of his violas, both Maggini copies.  And I love the ease in playability, the string length and neck being given special consideration to that end.  It also feels light to hold.

The tone of my “new to me” viola is warm, rich and clear, and the viola responds easily.  I especially enjoy the amount of sound it produces and it is a very manageable 16 and 1/4 inches.  I also love the way it looks, with its double perfling and beautiful antiquing.

Every day that I have had it, I look forward to playing it— hard passages are more possible now and I am enjoying playing again thanks to Michael and this beautiful viola…..thank you, Michael!”

Best Regards,
Geraldine Walther,
Former Violist Takacs Quartet
Former Principal Violist, San Francisco Symphony
Interim Director of Chamber Music, Colburn School


FROM LYNDON TAYLOR
Dear Michael,
Here’s just a note to tell you how much I enjoy playing your violin.  The violin has a depth and quality of sound which is rarely heard in modern instruments, yet the sound carries to fill large acoustic spaces.  I find it easy to switch from the LA Phil’s 1728 Stradivarius to your 1998 violin.  And the violin is equally pleasing to the eye as it is to the ear.
Thank you!
Lyndon Taylor
Principal Violin II, Los Angeles Philharmonic


Nathaniel RosenFROM NATHANIEL ROSEN
December 8th, 2006
I am please to be the owner of a cello made by J. Michael G. Fischer of Los Angeles in 1998. This instrument, which I use in all of my concert work, is a copy of a cello made in 1740 by Domenico Montagnana and is comparable to the original in tone and physical beauty. I treasure this cello, which is second to none among modern instruments.
Nathaniel Rosen


Evan Drachman Testimonial

FROM EVAN DRACHMAN
Dear Michael,
Thank you so much for lending me your gorgeous! I was thrilled to play on it. The tone is beautiful and the look and shape of it make me feel right at home. As a testament to the success of this cello, both Nick Rosen and Jeffery Solow thought that I was playing on my Montagnana.

Your cello is not just a copy. It has a personality all its own. Thank you again for being so helpful and for allowing me to play your cello.
All my best wishes,
Fondly,
Evan


FROM JOHN KOENIG
after attending the Piatigorsky Cello Festival

“I was privileged to hear Nick Rosen play the Milhaud Cello Concerto last night on a program featuring him and three other former Piatigorsky students: Laurence Lesser, Rafael Wallfisch and Jeffrey Solow. They all played brilliantly. I must say, your cello, which Nick played, sounded wonderful and definitely held its own in some pretty elevated company including an Larry’s Amati, Rafael’s Gagliano and Jeff’s Sgarabotto. Your cello sounded full and rich and allowed Nick to give full rein to his wide expressive palette. The lower register was full and rich and the top of the A string was brilliant. Congratulations.”


Jan Karlin of SW Chamber MusicFROM JAN KARLIN AT SW CHAMBER MUSIC
Dear Michael,

I would like to thank you for your many years as instrument maker for the Los Angeles and international community. Your violins, violas and cello are amongst the finest of contemporary instruments and are owned by many prominent musicians. The care that you take in making your instruments, as well as your maintenance of the instruments over the following years, is greatly appreciated.

I am fortunate to own two of your violas, one modern and one set up for Baroque playing. The depth of sound, beauty of the workmanship, and ease of playing are admired every day. The violas are perfect for all types of playing and have help up beautifully over the past decades.

Southwest Chamber Music has been fortunate to have your instruments owned by many members of the ensemble during the past 18 seasons. In 1995, we were pleased to present three cycles of the Complete Beethoven String Quartets on a matched quartet of your instruments. The players commented frequently that the instruments seemed to vibrate together, with a gorgeous matched sound rarely found in older instruments. I am convinced that having a matched quartet of instruments helped the success of the Southwest Chamber Music Beethoven string quartet cycle.

In fact, during the past 17 seasons, I estimate that musicians with our ensemble have purchased and performed on more than 8 of your instruments, and many more of your instruments have been sold to students of our artists. It has added to the quality and recordings of our Grammy Award winning ensemble to have instruments of such high caliber.

Thanks you for your continuing work in creating excellent violins, violas and cello. I wish you many more productive years in our community.

With warmest regards,
Jan Karlin
Violist and Executive Director
Southwest Chamber Music


Peter Marsh of USCFROM PETER MARSH AT USC
October 30th, 2002
To Whom it may concern:
As a Stradivarius owner for 14 years and as an appreciator of hundreds of great stringed instruments that I have had the privilege of playing and examining, I know that Michael Fischer, of all the contemporary luthiers, is the one that captures the OLD Italian sound, with its wonderful complexity and surpassing beauty.

My wife Donna and I own several violins and violas made by Michael Fischer. We take great pride and joy in their use and ownership. Michael Fischer is a genius of his profession and a person of great probity.

Peter Marsh
dir., String Chamber Music
Thorton School of Music
University of So. California


George Orner of Baltimore SymphonyFROM GEORGE ORNER OF BALTIMORE SYM. ORCH.
April 23, 1998
Dear Michael,
For many years as a violinist I have had the experience of playing some of the great old instruments of the master builders. My time with them gave me the opportunity to find what each had to offer.

So now I have the great pleasure to tell those who might read this letter of the love I have for your violins that I play each day. That it is possible for you to create instruments of a level quite beyond what many of us know as a modern or new violin becomes a true artistic achievement.

My best wishes,
George Orner
Principal second violinist
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra


FROM LARS HOEFS, PROF. OF CELLO AT SAO PAULO STATE UNI., BRAZIL
I absolutely love Michael Fischer’s cello. Whether as soloist with orchestra, in chamber music, or leading a cello ensemble, the cello’s combination of power and poetry, its complex palette equips and inspires me to reach for the composer’s intentions.

Lars Hoefs
Professor of Cello
Sao Paulo State University
Campinas, Brazil