Munich Radio Orchestra Explained

Munich Radio Orchestra
Native Name:Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Short Name:MRO
Location:Munich, Germany
Principal Conductor:Ivan Repušić

The Munich Radio Orchestra (German: Münchner Rundfunkorchester) is a German symphony broadcast orchestra based in Munich. It is one of the two orchestras affiliated with the Bavarian Radio (Bayerischer Rundfunk), the other being the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.

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 (1998–2005). This activity extended to commercial recordings of operas and opera excerpts with the orchestra's chief conductors.[1] [2] [3]

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.[4] After negotiations, the orchestra was preserved, with a reduction in size from 72 to 50 musicians.[5]

From 2006 to 2017, the orchestra's chief conductor was Ulf Schirmer.[6] During his tenure, Schirmer has conducted with the orchestra commercial recordings for the Bavarian Radio's own BR-Klassik label, including Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend. The orchestra has also recorded for other labels such as CPO, RCA,[7] Acanta[8] and Sony Classical.[9]

In May 2016, the orchestra announced the appointment of Ivan Repušić as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season.[10] Patrick Hahn became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in the 2021-2022 season, the first principal guest conductor in the orchestra's history.[11] In July 2022, the orchestra announced the extension of Repušić's contract as chief conductor through the summer of 2026.[12] [13]

Chief conductors

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Classical Briefs: Rossini – Tancredi . The New York Times . Sarah Bryan Miller . 1 December 1996 . 30 January 2011 . 16 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141016131028/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/01/arts/classical-briefs-475769.html . live .
  2. News: A New generation Revels in Bel Canto . The New York Times . Anthony Tommasini . 8 November 1998 . 30 January 2011.
  3. News: The Best Classical CD's of 2004 . The New York Times . Anne Midgette . 12 December 2004 . 30 January 2011 . 16 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141016130327/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/arts/music/12reco.html . live .
  4. News: Marcello Viotti, Conductor, Is Dead at 50 . The New York Times . Anne Midgette . 17 February 2005 . 30 January 2011 . 11 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121111024207/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E2DA133AF934A25751C0A9639C8B63 . live .
  5. News: Can the iPod Kill These Radio Stars? . The New York Times . Anne Midgette . 29 October 2006 . 30 January 2011 . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819214411/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/arts/music/29midg.html . live .
  6. News: Ulf Schirmer verlässt 2017 den Bayerischen Rundfunk . Abendzeitung München . 6 May 2014 . 26 September 2015.
  7. News: Classical CD's;3 Ways To Go Astray . The New York Times . Anthony Tommasini . 25 July 1996 . 30 January 2011 . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819214317/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/25/arts/critic-s-choice-classical-cd-s-3-ways-to-go-astray.html . live .
  8. News: Home Entertainment/Recordings: Recent Releases . The New York Times . George Jellinek . 2 April 1989 . 30 January 2011 . 25 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150525104014/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/02/arts/home-entertainment-recordings-recent-releases.html . live .
  9. News: Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Garanca/ Brownlee/ Gunn/ De Simone/ Munich Radio Orchestra/ Gomez-Martinez . The Guardian . Tim Ashley . 20 October 2006 . 30 January 2011 . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819214318/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/oct/20/classicalmusicandopera.art1?INTCMP=SRCH . live .
  10. Ivan Repušić neuer Chefdirigent . Munich Radio Orchestra . 5 May 2016 . 4 June 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160704045342/http://www.rundfunkorchester.de/ivan-repusic-neuer-chefdirigent/ . 4 July 2016 .
  11. News: Patrick Hahn beim Münchner Rundfunkorchester: Shootingstar wird Erster Gastdirigent . BR Klassik . 2021-09-02 . 2021-09-03 . 19 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819214319/https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/patrick-hahn-erster-gastdirigent-muenchner-rundfunkorchester-100.html . live .
  12. Chefdirigent Ivan Repušić verlängert Vertrag bis 2026 . Munich Radio Orchestra . 11 July 2022 . 2022-07-12 . 12 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220712082016/https://www.rundfunkorchester.de/vertragsverlaengerung-ivan-repusic-bis-2026/ . live .
  13. News: Münchner Rundfunkorchester: Ivan Repušić verlängert als Chefdirigent bis 2026 . BR Klassik . 2022-07-11 . 2022-07-12 . 12 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220712082015/https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/ivan-repusic-vertrag-verlaengerung-muenchner-rundfunkorchester-100.html . live .

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