Lachner was a member of a prominent German family of musicians. He was a composer, conductor, and keyboard performer who learned the piano and organ from his father who was the organist for the ciy of Munich. Making a living as an organist, teacher and instrumentalist in Munich, Lachner became an organist for a Lutheran church in Vienna in 1823. This afforded him the opportunity of completing his musical education with Sechter and Stadler. Joining a circle of musicians, including Schubert, Lachner met Beethoven. In 1827 he acceeded to the position of assisstant conductor at the Kartnertor Theater in Vienna and was the primary conductor by 1829. Lachner returned to Munich in 1836 and began to win musical acceptance. He was not only the conductor for the Munich court opera but also conducted concerts of the Musikalische Akademie and the Konigliche Vokalkapelle. In 1852 Lachner was appointed as the Generalmusikdirektor of the city of Munich and in 1862 was awarded an Honorary PhD. His success came to an abrupt end in 1864 with the arrival of Wagner in Munich. Lachner's students included Rheinberger and Wullner and his music was influenced by Schubert, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Spohr and Meyerbeer. Noted compositions by Lachner included the opera "Catarina Cornaro," his seventh orchestral suite, and a requiem mass. Known for exemplary performances, Lachner raised the abilities, qualifications and expectations of the opera in Munich thus preparing the way for the demands of Wagner. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi