Note 35 — INTRODUCTION

It is even doubtful whether his conducting was as detrimental to the operas as Wagner seems to have thought. The records show that both Tannhäuser and Lohengrin were very well received under his baton. Liszt heard a performance of Tannhäuser under Lachner at Munich in 1856, and writes thus to Wagner under date 12th December of that year: "Lachner had certainly rehearsed the score with the utmost precision and care, for which we can only thank and praise him." He doubts whether Lachner understood the drama as Wagner meant it to be understood; but granting that, the trouble that Lachner had evidently taken to do justice to the music is all the more creditable to him. That he was pretty free from prejudice towards Wagner is shown by his recommending him for the Maximilian Order in 1864, and again in 1873. The King granted Wagner the Order the second time. See Röckl, pp. 57, 234.