His mother taught him to play the piano, but he had a mild case of polio as a child and lost dexterity in his feet and legs.

[1] He received early training from Odette Krettly, and from 1918 studied with André Hekking and later with Paul Bazelaire.

At various stages he played with many of the most highly acclaimed, prestigious musicians of his time, and recorded the complete chamber music of Brahms and Schubert for the BBC on acetates.

His performance in America became an embarrassment when it was revealed in 1949 that Fournier had collaborated with the Nazis during the occupation of France.

[2] In the '50s he toured South America, often accompanied by Alfredo Rossi,[3][4] a personal friend and former colleague during his early days in Italy[5] and Spain.

Until the end of his life, he taught privately at his home in Geneva: the cellists Julian Lloyd Webber and Rocco Filippini were among his pupils.