Background
Fisher was born at Dunstable in 1744, the son of Richard Fisher. He became entitled to a sixteenth share of Covent Garden Theatre by his marriage about 1770 with Mission Powell, daughter of a proprietor.
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John Fisher
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Education
Magdalen College.
Career
He was brought up in Lord Tyrawley"s house, learning the violin from Pinto, and his appearance at the King"s Theatre (1763), where he played a concerto, was "by permission" of his patron. The following year Fisher was enrolled in the Royal Society of Musicians. He matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford, 26 June 1777.
His indefatigable industry obtained him the degrees of Bac. and Doctor
Music. on 5 July 1777, his oratorio Providence being performed at the Sheldonian Theatre two days previously. The work was afterwards heard several times in London.
But Fisher"s name as a composer is more closely connected with theatrical than with sacred music He devoted his musical talent and business energy to the theatre.
The Tonkünstler-Societät employed three languages in a memorandum—"Monsieur Fischer, ein Engelländer und virtuoso di Violino"—which probably refers to the stranger"s performance at a concert of the society.
The wedding had taken place with a certain amount of éclat, but when the virtuoso bullied and even struck his bride, the scandal soon became public, and a separation followed. The emperor (Joseph) ordered Fisher to quit his dominion. Fisher gave concerts at the Rotunda, and occupied himself as a teacher.
He died in May or June 1806.
