Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

48°8′39.6″N 11°33′13.7″E

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Radio orchestra
Mariss Jansons, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Grosser Musikvereinssaal
Native name	Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Short name	BRSO
Founded	1949; 75 years ago (1949)
Location	Munich, Germany
Concert hall	Philharmonie, Gasteig Cultural Centre Herkulessaal, Munich Residenz
Principal conductor	Sir Simon Rattle
Website	www.brso.de

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, 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 Rundfunk, or Bavarian Broadcasting (BR). Its primary concert venues are the Philharmonie of the Gasteig Cultural Centre and the Herkulessaal in the Munich Residenz.

History

The orchestra was founded in 1949, with members of an earlier radio orchestra in Munich as the core personnel. Eugen Jochum was the orchestra's first chief conductor, from 1949 until 1960. Subsequent chief conductors have included Rafael Kubelík, Sir Colin Davis and Lorin Maazel. The orchestra's most recent chief conductor was Mariss Jansons, from 2003 until his death in 2019.^[1] Jansons regularly campaigned for a new concert hall during his tenure.^[2]

In 2010, Sir Simon Rattle first guest-conducted the BRSO. In January 2021, the BRSO announced the appointment of Rattle as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2023–2024 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.^[3] On 21 September 2023, Rattle conducted Haydn's The Creation with Bavarian Radio Choir and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at Herkulessaal, Munich Residenz.^[4]

The orchestra participates in the musica viva concerts, founded by the composer Karl Amadeus Hartmann, to this day.^[5]

The orchestra has recorded for a number of commercial labels, including Deutsche Grammophon,^[6] RCA, and EMI.^[7][8] The orchestra received the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance for its recording of Shostakovich's 13th Symphony. Since 2009, the orchestra produces recordings under its own BR-Klassik label.^[9][10]

Chief conductors

• Eugen Jochum (1949–1960)
• Rafael Kubelík (1961–1979)
• Sir Colin Davis (1983–1992)
• Lorin Maazel (1993–2002)
• Mariss Jansons (2003–2019)
• Sir Simon Rattle (2023–present)

Venues

• 
  Gasteig Philharmonie, Munich
• 
  Herkulessaal, Munich Residenz

See also

• Radio orchestra
• Category:Music commissioned by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1)

References

1. Fridemann Leipold (1 December 2019). "Mariss Jansons gestorben – Eine Ära geht zu ende". BR Klassik. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
2. Nina Siegal (22 December 2014). "Mariss Jansons Fights for New Concert Hall in Munich". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
3. "Sir Simon appointed Chief Conductor" (Press release). Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
4. "Rattles Einstand mit Haydns "Schöpfung"". Süddeutsche.de (in German). 22 September 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
5. Potts, Joseph E., "European Radio Orchestras: Western Germany" (September 1955). The Musical Times, 96 (1351): 473–475.
6. Fiona Maddocks (19 February 2011). "Echoes of Time: Lisa Batiashvili (violin), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra/Salonen – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
7. Andrew Clements (18 November 2004). "Shostakovich: Symphony No 4, Bavarian Radio Symphony/ Jansons". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
8. Tim Ashley (12 August 2005). "Shostakovich: Symphony No 13, 'Babi Yar', Alexashkin/ Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Jansons". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
9. "10 Jahre BR-KLASSIK Label: Wer Schätze hat, sollte sie teilen". BR-KLASSIK (in German). 23 October 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
10. Andrew Clements (4 April 2013). "Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No 9; A Hero's Song – review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2013.

External links

Media related to Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in English and German)