Heinrich August Fischer (1827-1917).

• Profession: Pianist, Music teacher, choir master Jihlava Mannergesang-Verein, Church of St James the Greater (Jakubske square, Sct. Jakob’s Platz).
• Relation to Mahler: Teacher in Jihlava. See Music education Gustav Mahler in Jihlava.
• Correspondence with Mahler: Yes, all of his life.
  • 00-00-0000, Year
• Born: 27-06-1828? Jihlava, Moravia.
• Education: 1829-1835? Conservatory, Prague. Oboe, harmony and composition.
• Marriage: 26-10-1858 Jihlava, Moravia.
• Wife: Anna Fischer-Benischko. Born: 17-07-1832 Jihlava, Moravia. Died: 1897 Jihlava, Moravia. Buried: 00-00-0000? She was a dominant personality in Jihlava’s musical events in the second half of the 19th century and organizer of the Jihlava Singing Festivals (Iglauer Sangerfest).
• Child 1: Theodor Fischer (1859-1934).
• Address: Sterlygasse 19/270, Prague, Moravia.
• Address: Vienna?
• Address: Graz?
• Address: 1873-1894: House Heinrich Fischer 1873-1874 (Mrstikova Nos. 1/1176, Schonmelzer Gasse No. 383), Jihlava, Moravia.
• Address: 1874 House Heinrich Fischer 1874 and thereafter (Palackeho street Nos. 13/1231, Breite Gasse No. 423), Jihlava, Moravia.
• Died: 31-01-1917 Jihlava, Moravia.
• Buried: 00-00-0000 Central cemetery (Zizkova street Nos. 95/1866, Batellauer Gasse No. 33), Jihlava. Grave VI – 22. This is the location where now his son Theodor Fischer (1859-1934) and his wife are buried. Gravestone Heinrich August Fischer (1827-1917) removed.

Career

• 1835 Instrumentalist in Graz, Vienna and Jihlava.
• 1852 Co-founded Male Singers Jihlava Mannergesang-Verein. See also: Hall of Singers (Hluboka street Nos. 7/106, Tiefegasse No. 201).
• 1858-1909 Choirmaster Church of St James the Greater (Jakubske square, Sct. Jakob’s Platz).
• Music director at Municipal theater (Komenskeho street Nos. 24/1357, Spital Gasse No. 4), Jihlava, Moravia.
• 1862 Founded Jihlava Private singing school
• 07-09-1868 Bandleader newly established urban music.
• 1870 Works in two Jihlava parish churches.
• 27-03-1908 Honorary Citizenship for meritorious work for the town of Jihlava in his musical life.
• 1912 Golden Cross of Merit with a crown (Goldenes Verdienstkreuz mit der Krone).

Gustav mahlers first teachers included Czech musicians from the town band, whom Gustav knew mostly from the taproom, such as Jakub Sladky (House Jakob Sladky (Mincovny Nos. 9/85, Kleine Pfarr Gasse No. 67), and later Jan Broz and Jan Zizka of the theatre orchestra, its conductor Frantisek Viktorin, and the music teachers Vaclav Pressburg (pupil of Anton Bruckner) and Frantisek Sturm.

The biggest role in Gustav Mahler’s musical growth was played by a music teacher, a graduate of the Prague Conservatory, the choirmaster at Saint Jacob the Greater church (Jakubske square) and the “Men Singers’ Society” and an organizer of musical life in Jihlava: Heinrich Fischer (1827-1917). It was to him alone that Mahler expressed gratitude for his whole life and wrote to him on all sorts of occasions.

Heinrich August Fischer (1827-1917).

Anna Fischer-Benischko (1832-1897).

Envelop from a letter of Gustav Mahler to Heinrich August Fischer (1827-1917).

Postcard from Gustav Mahler to Heinrich August Fischer (1827-1917). Mittewald bei Villach (near 1901-1907 House Gustav Mahler Maiernigg – Villa Mahler No. 31).