Lachner, Franz (2 April 1803 – 20 January 1890)

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and conductor from Rain am Lech, Germany, whose father taught him and his siblings to sing and play organ, piano and violin.

He attended the Royal School in Neuburg an der Donau on a scholarship, but after his father passed away, he tried to find work in Munich, Germany. There, he found jobs as a cellist, contrabassist, horn player, music teacher, organist and violinist. In addition, he furthered his studies with Caspar Ett, who tutored him in the disciplines of organ and music theory.

None of the above work experience added up to financial autonomy, however. Luckily, and skillfully, he won a music prize that allowed him to relocate to Vienna, Austria, in 1823. Here, he found work as an organist at the Lutheran Church, and furthered his education with Abbe Stadler and Simon Sechter. These alliances led to his meetings with Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, with whom he became fast friends.

All the while, he spent whatever free time he could composing, and in 1824, penned his “Septet in E flat major”, which was scored for cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, horn, viola, and violin.

More work followed, this time at Theater am Karntertor, where he held the posts of bandmaster, coach, conductor and music director.

In 1827, he started composing liturgical works, and authored three orchestral masses in two years. His “Sangerfahrt” were written between 1831 and 1832, when his “Flute Concerto in D minor” appeared.

He and other members of the court opera orchestra co-founded the Kunstlerverein, which was a forerunner of the Vienna Philharmonic, in 1833.

In 1834, he took a job as Kapellmeister in Mannheim, Germany, which involved conducting concerts, festivals and operas.

Munich came calling in 1836, and Franz became the Royal Court Conductor, a tenure he would enjoy for the next three decades. His job entailed the directorship of the Court church, concert hall and theater.

In 1841, he wrote the opera Caterina Cornaro, which was met with a favourable reception. He directed the Munich debut of St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1842. In the late 1840s, he finished his sixth and last string quartet, in the key of A minor, Op. 173. His “Octet in B flat major, Op. 156” and Stabat Mater, appeared around 1850. In 1851, he completed his eighth and final symphony, in the key of G minor, Op. 100.

He added “General Music Director” to his list of job titles in 1852. In 1855, he composed original recitatives to supplant dialogue for a production of Medee by Luigi Cherubini in Frankfurt, Germany. He wrote his Requiem in F minor, Op. 146, in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 100^th birthday, in 1856. In between time, from 1853 to 1859, he penned forty-something religious works for voice.

Munich University honoured him with a doctorate in 1863. Not so much of an honour was his replacement by Richard Wagner of Hans von Bulow as conductor of the court opera. This led to Franz’s “early retirement”, although he resurfaced in 1867 after Richard departed, and officially retired in 1868.

During his exile, he penned his “String Quintet in C minor, Op. 121”. In 1869, he unveiled his “Piano Quintet No. 2, Op. 145. His first three organ sonatas were published in 1877. One of his most widely regarded compositions, the “Orchestral Suite No. 7 in D minor, Op. 190”, may have been his last, turning up in 1881.

Munich granted him honourary citizenship on his 80^th birthday in 1883.

On 20^th January 1890, he shuffled off his mortal coil at the age of 86. He was interred at the old southern cemetery in Munich.

His compositions number almost four-hundred and include cantatas, chamber works, choruses, instrumental works, masses, operas, oratorios, organ works, songs, suites and symphonies.

Recordings of his music include: Franz Lachner: Geistliche Chorwerke (Sacred Choral Works) by Gerd Guglhor & Orpheus ChorMunchen; Franz Lachner: Nonet in F major/Joseph Rheinberger: Nonet in E-flat major, Op. 139 by Ensemble Wien-Berlin; Franz Lachner: Octet op. 156/Nonet in F by Consortium Classicum & Dieter Klocker; Franz Lachner: Requiem in f/Welterspielung by Kammersolisten Augsburg & Hermann Meyer; and, Konig Oedipus: Buhnenmusik zur Tragodie des Sophocles by Mannerchor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Munchner Rundfunkorchester & Jorg-Peter Weigle.

Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra (Katowice) recordings
Suite No. 7 in D minor, Op. 190 (Franz Lachner)
Marco Polo 223195
Conductor – Stephen Gunzenhauser

Sources:

Lachner, Franz (2 April 1803 – 20 January 1890)

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