Lachner

Lachner, family of German musicians, all brothers:

(1) Theodor Lachner , organist and composer; b. Rain-am-Lech, 1788; d. Munich, May 23, 1877. He served as Munich court organist throughout most of his career. He was known as a composer of choral music and lieder.

(2) Franz Paul Lachner , conductor and composer; b. Rain-am- Lech, April 2, 1803; d. Munich, Jan. 20, 1890. He studied piano and organ with his father, Anton Lachner, the town organist. He then went to Vienna, where he studied with Sechter and Stadler. He became a close friend of Schubert, and also came to know Beethoven. He was made organist of the Lutheran Church (1823), and then was asst. conductor (1827–29) and principal conductor (1829–34) of the Kärnthnertortheater. He was conductor of the Mannheim National Theater (1834–36), and then court conductor (1836–52) and Generalmusikdirektor (1852–65) in Munich.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Die Bürgschaft (Pest, Oct. 30, 1828); Alidia (Munich, April 12, 1839); Catarina Cornaro (Munich, Dec.3, 1841); Benvenuto Cellini (Munich, Oct. 7, 1849). orch.: 8 syms. (1828–51); 7 suites (1861–81); 2 harp concertos (1828, 1833); Flute Concerto (1832). vocal:Die vier Menschenalter, cantata (1829); Moses, oratorio (1833); 8 masses; Stabat Mater, other choral works; songs. other: Much chamber music; piano pieces.

Bibliography

G. Wagner, F. L. als Liederkomponist, nebst einem biographischen Teil und dem thematischen Verzeichnis sämtlicher Lieder (diss., Univ. of Mainz, 1969).

(3) Ignaz Lachner , organist, conductor, and composer; b. Rain-am-Lech, Sept. 11, 1807; d. Hannover, Feb. 24, 1895. He studied with his father and then in Vienna(1824) with his brother Franz, whom he succeeded as organist of the Lutheran Church.He was asst. conductor of the Kärnthnertortheater (1825–28) and the Court Opera(1828-31) there. He was court conductor in Stuttgart (1831–36) and Munich (1836–53), conductor of the Hamburg Opera (1853–58), then court conductor in Stockholm (1858–61). From 1861 to 1875 he was principal conductor in Frankfurt am Main.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Der Geisterturm (Stuttgart, 1837); Die Regenbrüder (Stuttgart, May 20, 1839); Loreley (Munich, 1846). other: Singspiels and other dramatic works; ballets. other: Syms.; masses; chamber music; piano pieces.

Bibliography

H. Müller, I. L.: Versuch einer Würdigung, mit Werkverzeichnis (Celle, 1974).

(4) Vincenz Lachner , organist, conductor, and composer; b. Rain-am-Lech, July 19, 1811; d. Karlsruhe, Jan. 22, 1893. He studied with his father and then with his brothers in Vienna, succeeding Ignaz as organist of the Lutheran Church and Franz as conductor of the Kärnthnertortheater (1834) and at the Mannheim National Theater (1836). He conducted the German Opera in London (1842), then became conductor of the Frankfurt am Main Opera (1848); he was pensioned in 1872. From 1884 he taught at the Karlsruhe Cons. He wrote syms., overtures, chamber music, and numerous songs, but was best known for his 4-part men’s choruses.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire