Fischer was rector of the Felix Mendelssohn College of Music and Theatre from 1948 to 1973. He initiated the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition, Leipzig in 1964 and served as the president of the competition until 1973. Fischer was president of the "Association Européene de Conservatoires, Academies de Musique et Musik-Hochschulen" between 1968 and 1974.

As a performer he played with the Gewandhausorchester, Leipzig and the Staatskapelle Dresden and made several recordings. He was also a member of the Schumann-Gesellschaft, Zwickau and the Neue Bachgesellschaft, Leipzig.