The composer Jan F. (Frank) Fischer had been interested in music, literature, painting and architecture since his early youth. He chose a career of a professional musician when universities were closed during German occupation at the time of the Second World War. He studied at Prague Conservatory - graduated from its master class under Jaroslav Ridky in 1948. He has preserved an active attitude towards literature in the course of his musical studies. He translated Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Alarcon, and Lorca from Spanish, tried to write drama himself. These circumstances no doubt contributed to the fact that scenic forms have a dominant position in Jan F. Fischer's work.
All of his ten operas which he composed to his own libretti, were performed at home and abroad. Positive response was recorded already to his first opera "Bridegrooms" which was premiered in Brno and then performed also in Dessau, Bautzen, and Dobeln. His opera "Romeo, Juliette and Darkness" which takes its theme from the doom reality of fascist occupation of Czechoslovakia is of highest importance not only for him but for the whole Czech music of that period. It won to its author the Prague City Prize, was staged in Brno, Prague, Usti nad Labem and at opera houses abroad - Plauen, Stralsund and Ljubljana. Of his other works for stage, chamber opera after J. Verne "Oh, Mr. Fogg" was premiered in Saarbrucken, opera Decameron was performed at Czechoslovak opera-houses and saw introductions in Halberstadt and Ljubljana. His opera Copernicus is devoted to the centenary of the Prague National Theatre (1984).
Jan F. Fischer contributed three pieces to the repertory of ballet ensembles. The second of them - The Puppet Player - had its world premiere in Magdeburg in 1980.
Although the theatre has always been main Fischer's preoccupation, he also wrote a great number of instrumental compositions. Some of his orchestral works confirm and complete his dramatic feeling (in particular Monothematic Symphony and Commemoration of the Slovak National Uprising Heroes) or his visual talent (Pictures for Orchestra). However, most of these compositions arise from purely musical incentives (e.g. concertos for clarinet, harp, concerto for orchestra, and others). Of similar character are chamber compositions including Wind Quintet, Seven Letters Quartet, Etude for Harp, Preludes for Guitar, Music for Piano.
Jan F. Fischer's works for stage include his incidental music and musicals (over 130 works) and he also wrote a lot of music for film and television. His operas, whether written for the large stage, or for student or chamber ensembles, and his ballets as well, all enjoyed enjoyed wide acclaim both perfomed at home or abroad, particularly in Germany and Slovenia.