The Munich Radio Orchestra (German: ''Münchner Rundfunkorchester'') is a German symphony broadcast orchestra based in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. It is one of the two orchestras affiliated with the Bavarian Radio (

Bayerischer Rundfunk (; "Bavarian Broadcasting"), shortened to BR (), is a public broadcasting, public-service radio and television broadcaster, based in Munich, capital city of the Bavaria, Free State of Bavaria in Germany. BR is a member organization of the ARD (b ...

), the other being the

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (, BRSO) is a German radio orchestra. Based in Munich, Germany, it is one of the city's four orchestras. The BRSO is one of two full-size symphony orchestras operated under the auspices of Bayerischer Rundf ...

History

A precursor ensemble to the Munich Radio Orchestra was established in the 1920s. The current Munich Radio Orchestra was formalised in 1952, with Werner Schmidt-Boelke as its first chief conductor. The orchestra's focus has historically been on light music, with particular emphasis in its early years as an orchestra for operettas. The orchestra was also historically known for its Sunday concerts. From the chief conductorship of Lamberto Gardelli (1982–1985) onwards, the orchestra expanded its repertoire into opera, specifically Italian opera. This work continued under the orchestra's next three chief conductors, all Italians, Giuseppe Patanè (1988–1989), Roberto Abbado (1992–1998), and

Marcello Viotti Marcello Viotti (29 June 195416 February 2005) was a Swiss classical music conductor, best known for opera. Viotti was born in Vallorbe, in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, to Italian parents. He studied cello, piano and singing at th ...

(1998–2005). This activity extended to commercial recordings of operas and opera excerpts with the orchestra's chief conductors. The orchestra faced budget constraints and the threat of dissolution by Bavarian Radio in 2004. In protest at these threats to the existence of the orchestra, Viotti resigned as chief conductor that year. After negotiations, the orchestra was preserved, with a reduction in size from 72 to 50 musicians. From 2006 to 2017, the orchestra's chief conductor was Ulf Schirmer. During his tenure, Schirmer has conducted with the orchestra commercial recordings for the Bavarian Radio's own BR-Klassik label, including

Karl Amadeus Hartmann Karl Amadeus Hartmann (2 August 1905 – 5 December 1963) was a German composer. A major figure of the musical life of post-war Germany, he has been described as the greatest German symphonist of the 20th century. Life Born in Munich, the son ...

's ''Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend''. The orchestra has also recorded for other labels such as CPO, RCA, Acanta and Sony Classical. In May 2016, the orchestra announced the appointment of as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season. Patrick Hahn became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in the 2021–2022 season, the first principal guest conductor in the orchestra's history. In July 2022, the orchestra announced the extension of Repušić's contract as chief conductor through the summer of 2026.

Chief conductors

* Werner Schmidt-Boelke (1952–1967) * Kurt Eichhorn (1967–1975) *

Heinz Wallberg Heinz Wallberg (16 March 192329 September 2004) was a German conductor. Wallberg was born in Herringen, Westphalia. He studied trumpet, violin and piano. He helped to support his family with his musical training after his father became unabl ...

(1975–1981) * Lamberto Gardelli (1982–1985) * Giuseppe Patanè (1988–1989) * Roberto Abbado (1992–1998) *

(1998–2005) * Ulf Schirmer (2006–2017) * (2017–present)

Venue

References

External links

*
Göran Forsling, MusicWeb International review of Franz Lehár's ''Schön ist die Welt'' (CPO 777 055-2), 6 May 2006
* {{Authority control Bayerischer Rundfunk German symphony orchestras Musical groups established in 1952 1952 establishments in West Germany German radio orchestras Orchestras in Munich