BROKEN WAND
Christian Fechner
by Maria Ibâñez 
November 26, 2008

We received a communication from Sonny Fontana this morning. It is with deep sadness that he reports on the passing of the great Christian Fechner... Christian Fechner's career started as a magician, musician, and record producer before he embarked on creating successful films, including classic titles like Camille Claudel. As a performer, Fechner won the invention prize at the 1979 FISM and has devised magic effects for David Copperfield and Siegfried and Roy, and many others. (read more)

Fechner's past literary projects are among the most lavish magic books ever published. His bibliography of French conjuring books is the most complete to date, and his two-volume Soirees Fantastiques.He also annotated an excellent edition of Robert-Houdin's Memoirs published in France with numerous beautiful color illustrations of many of the treasures in his collection.  For decades, Fechner had researched the world of Robert-Houdin, through the holdings of his own extensive collection and those of French historians; public and private archives, libraries, and museums throughout Europe; and the descendants of the magician, who for the first time in a century allowed a researcher access to precious documents including the original manuscripts for the Memoirs of Robert-Houdin and other works.

His devotion to his subject resulted in a work of more than 900 pages with over 1200 illustrations.  The intelligence and artistry of the two men makes an incredible mix in The Magic of Robert-Houdin. Fechner's insightful analyses transform his work into more than just a recitation of facts. [Edited from the November 2002, Linking Ring - by Todd Karr]

Christian touched the lives of many throughout the world and especially within the magic community. He will be missed.

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