Bayerisches Staatsorchester 2023–24

The history of the Bayerische Staatsorchester began half a millennium ago. The year 1523 marked the beginning of institutionalized music-making in instrumental ensembles at the Bavarian court; this was the nucleus of today's Bayerisches Staatsorchester, which can thus look back on a history that is now five hundred years old. From small beginnings in a courtly context, the orchestra gradually developed into a large opera orchestra, which soon also regularly performed symphonic works and, since the early 19th century, has organized the first public concert series in Munich as part of the Musikalische Akademie (Musical Academy). Today, the Bayerische Staatsorchester is one of the top international ensembles with members from twenty-four nations. The excellence and versatility of this orchestra, which is equally at home in the orchestra pit as on the concert podium, is appreciated worldwide; since 2013, the Staatsorchester has been voted "Orchestra of the Year" eight times in a row by 50 international critics in Opernwelt magazine.

In 2023, the anniversary will be celebrated with a variety of concerts and other events. During its summer tour of European musical capitals, the orchestra will also make a stop in its hometown and perform the outdoor concert as part of opera for all. The first two academy concerts of the 2023–24 season will bring reunions with two former music directors: Kirill Petrenko will conduct Gustav Mahler's Eighth Symphony, once premiered in Munich, and Kent Nagano will present a new work by Unsuk Chin, among others. Joana Mallwitz returns to the podium of the national theater, and our GMD Vladimir Jurowski conducts three academy concerts with a wide programmatic spectrum; he will also conduct the benefit concert in the Frauenkirche, the finale of our anniversary. Exquisite chamber music formations, from string quartets to harmony music and double basses, will be heard in the Allerheiligen Hofkirche and in the Cuvilliés Theater. The theme concerts will again bring an exchange of music and science. Furthermore we are especially looking forward to the projects for young musicians with the Hermann Levi Academy and the ATTACCA youth orchestra.