räsonanz – Lucerne 2024
Münchner Philharmoniker
Biography
Since its foundation in 1893, this orchestra has made an invaluable contribution to Munich’s musical life together with many renowned conductors. Under the baton by Gustav Mahler himself, they performed the world premieres of the composer’s Symphonies No. 4 and 8. And in November 1911, they premiered Mahler’s Lied von der Erde under Bruno Walter’s baton. Among the pioneering conductors who have worked with the Munich Philharmonic include such luminaries as Ferdinand Löwe, Eugen Jochum, Hans Rosbaud, Fritz Rieger and Rudolf Kempe.
In 1979, the orchestra appointed Sergiu Celibidache as its musical director. The legendary Bruckner concerts under his baton boosted its international reputation. From 1999 to 2004, the Munich Philharmonic’s principal conductor was James Levine. In 2004, Zubin Mehta was appointed as the orchestra’s first ever conductor laureate. Christian Thielemann continued the Munich Bruckner tradition during his tenure as well as upholding the classical-romantic repertoire. He was succeeded by Lorin Maazel, who was the orchestra’s principal conductor until his death in 2014. His successor, Valery Gergiev, held this position from 2015 to 2022, during which time they recorded all of Anton Bruckner’s symphonies in St. Florian basilica on the orchestra’s own MPHIL label. Following the successful Brahms cycle under conductor laureate Zubin Mehta in January 2024, the release of all four symphonies on that label is being planned, while the two Brahms piano concertos with Yefim Bronfman are set to be released on LP.
In 2018/19, the Munich Philharmonic celebrated its 125th anniversary. In October 2021, they inaugurated the Isarphilharmonie – the orchestra’s new home venue for the duration of the Gasteig’s renovation. The Isarphilharmonie was designed by architects Gerkan, Marg und Partner, its acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota and his company Nagata Acoustics. True to the Munich Philharmonic’s new motto, »Being approachable and breaking new ground«, the orchestra reaches out to new audiences with regular formats such as mphil late, and Wandelkonzerte. With Spielfeld Klassik, the Munich Philharmonic offers a comprehensive, cross-generational outreach programme, which is attended by around 35,000 people of all ages every year.
In February 2023, the Munich Philharmonic appointed Lahav Shani as its principal conductor. Even before taking up his post officially in September 2026, he will conduct six different programmes in the 2024/25 season under the motto »Dreams«, both in Munich and on tour. The Munich Philharmonic’s concerts at Klassik am Odeonsplatz will also take place under his baton.