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Münchner Rundfunkorchester

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Münchner Rundfunkorchester, in English the Munich Radio Orchestra, is a German radio orchestra in Munich. It is one of the two orchestras of the Bavarian broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk, alongside the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. A predecessor already existed in the 1920s. The present orchestra took its permanent form in 1952, with Werner Schmidt-Boelke as its first chief conductor.

Music and breakthrough

For a long time the emphasis was on light music, above all operettas in the early years, and the orchestra was known for its Sunday concerts. Under Lamberto Gardelli, chief conductor from 1982 to 1985, opera was added, especially Italian opera. This continued under three Italian successors: Giuseppe Patanè, Roberto Abbado and Marcello Viotti. In 2004 the broadcaster threatened to disband the orchestra. Viotti resigned in protest. After negotiations the orchestra survived, with fewer musicians, from seventy-two to fifty.

Influence

From 2006 to 2017 Ulf Schirmer was chief conductor, making recordings for the orchestra's own label BR-Klassik, including of Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend. Ivan Repušić followed. The orchestra also recorded for CPO, RCA, Acanta and Sony Classical, with operas such as Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Hoffmanns Erzählungen, and with Carmina Burana. In this way the orchestra remained a bridge between light classical music, opera and radio.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the recording of Carmina Burana and notice how chorus and orchestra come in together sharply and powerfully, and how the rhythm drives forward.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists