Franz Lachner Symphony No.5

[Alan Howe]

Having just battled my way through most of the first two movements of Lachner's 5th (on Marco Polo), what strikes me is the relative slackness of the performance, especially after a few days of listening carefully to Nos.3, 4 and 6 on cpo. And so the question that arises is this: would a possible Schmalfuss recording be a significant improvement (based on what we know of his approach), or is the problem, if there is one, inherent in the work itself?

[eschiss1]

Some works have live performances preserved on YouTube or similar that could be compared but this does not seem to be one of them, similarly with the 8th symphony...

[Alan Howe]

Yes, that's the problem, Eric. There's just no competition. So we have to put up with second-best.

[terry martyn]

I am sure that any cpo recording would be taken at a much faster pace. At the moment, Alan, to quote Lord Sugar, you are "struggling" to understand how this Symphony carried off the prize.

As you know, I have a strong emotional attachment to the Marco Polo rendition.  I must have listened to it about a hundred times during the very prolonged Spanish lockdown. And it is my "go-to" piece on YouTube when I want to be soothed. But I recognise that it is a (very) acquired taste!

[hyperdanny]

Just like terry martyn, I am very attached to the Marco Polo's "Passionata"..I don't forget that for a very long time theirs was the only Lachner we had. But I agree, the performance is pretty flabby, and while I love the piece, I recognize that if a symphony needs a taut performance, it's this one. It really would benefit from a Schmalfuss redoing, just like (actually even more) the Orchestral Suites, where in the fugues the Polish strings are untight and scrawny. On the other hand, I feel that the Marco Polo's 8th (my favorite Lachner symphony so far) is pretty well done.

[Alan Howe]

I think we have to remember how pioneering so many Marco Polo releases were thirty-odd years ago. I've no idea how many more Lachner symphonies Schmalfuss might have recorded, if any, but we surely need some replacements for the venerable MP performances.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Having just battled my way through most of the first two movements of Lachner's 5th (on Marco Polo), what strikes me is the relative slackness of the performance

I think you make a very good point. There is no doubt in my mind that the Symphony No. 5 is too long for its material, but I have always felt that a tighter performance might make it work a lot better, and Schmalfuss might be just the man to provide one. I really hope so. His performances of 3 & 6 are certainly punchy and the music really seems to come alive.

[Alan Howe]

I've honestly tried hard with Robinson in this symphony but he doesn't really do enough with the music. Schmalfuss strikes me as the better conductor - and he has the better orchestra at his disposal. Superior string section especially, so important in this music.