Franz Lachner: Symphony No. 4

[Ilja]

I personally don't mind the repeats - The material is so interesting and handled so beautifully.

Yes if a melodic idea is strong enough, I don't mind it being repeated. Another example is Kalinnikov's first symphony.

Up to a point, yes. I do find that Lachner rather overindulges in repetition at times, which can take the momentum - and structure - out of a movement as a whole. The scherzo of the 3rd is a good example. The guy had a real knack for catchy, Rossini-esque melodies, but whichever way you look at it, conciseness was not his strong suit.

[Justin]

On the 3rd symphony I agree. 45 minutes is a long time for that kind of material.

[Alan Howe]

45 minutes is a long time for that kind of material

It's actually nearly 48! However, although we have to acknowledge that Lachner's method is repetitious, it is possible to 'tune in' to his way of working. In particular, what I have done is to gather together the three cpo/Schmalfuss recordings and give his music time to sink in, to the exclusion (on some days) of music by other composers.

[terry martyn]

That's very interesting, Alan, as it was exactly what I did with the music of Lachner during Spain's very very long lockdown. I immersed myself in it, and grew to admire it.

[Alan Howe]

You have to do the same with, say, Bruckner. Is this heresy?

[Ilja]

That's very interesting, Alan, as it was exactly what I did with the music of Lachner during Spain's very very long lockdown. I immersed myself in it, and grew to admire it.

This comes close to Stockholm Syndrome, it seems.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Alan Howe]

Count me guilty!

[eschiss1]

For some of us this even works for other music quite entirely, including modern works premiered in Stockholm... (the year before I was born)
Anyhow, as to Lachner, cpo has been issuing these at what is for them quite a clip. Maybe symphony no.2 will be out -before- the recording industry implodes at this rate!... (kein ayin hara etc.) ...

[John Boyer]

To fill out my recent JPC order of Hiller and Grimm I decided to give the Lachner 4 a chance based on Alan's description of it here, even though what I've heard of Lachner's early symphonies (as opposed to his later chamber music) didn't strike me as my cup of tea.

To my great surprise, it's turned out to be my favorite, by a wide margin, of the three discs that I ordered. It's happily free from the Sturm-und-Drang melodrama that plagues some of Lachner's other symphonies, while being possessed of a sort of leisurely grandeur and dignity that we associate with the mature Schubert.

In any case, if I'm only going to own one Lachner Symphony, it's going to be this one.

[Alan Howe]

It's also my favourite of the three Lachner symphonies on cpo, John. Glad you like it.

[terry martyn]

The Lachner and the Hiller also came to me in the same package,John, and it was the Lachner that stood out for me too.

Much as I love the old Marco Polo recordings, I have now come to appreciate the manner in which the conductor and the orchestra on the cpo recordings approach the music.  I hope that they complete the cycle - not just the 2nd and the 7th,but the 5th and the 8th as well

I have little hope that his First will stand out from the crowd, but it will be both interesting and,I reckon, refreshing to hear them in the weighty 5th and 8th. I expect that there will be much more verve and sparkle.

[Alan Howe]

The Hiller symphonies aren't really comparable with Lachner: they're much more concise works.

[Justin]

Concise is a mild way to put it Alan, haha. My opinion is that if you shrink Lachner's large symphonies (especially the 5th) by 20%, you won't miss much. The 4th does work best because I feel the melodic content is stronger, especially in the first movement.

[John Boyer]

The Hiller symphonies aren't really comparable with Lachner: they're much more concise works.

I don't think anyone was actually comparing them, it was just a matter of the degree of expected enjoyment. I approached the purchase thinking the Hiller would be more enjoyable than the Lachner, but my experience was the opposite. 

It could easily have been a purchase of completely unrelated things, say one disc of 18th century keyboard music and the other of 20th century opera.  I generally like the latter but am cool to the former, so I would expect to come away enjoying the 20th century opera more than the 18th century keyboard music, but would find myself pleasantly surprised if it were the reverse, as it was with Hiller and Lachner.

[terry martyn]

I couldn't agree more,John