Country

:

Germany

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

The MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra is a renowned classical music ensemble based in Leipzig, Germany. The orchestra was founded in 1923 as the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and has since become one of the most respected orchestras in Europe. The orchestra was established by the German radio broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) as part of its efforts to promote classical music in the region. The orchestra's first conductor was Hermann Abendroth, who led the ensemble until 1934. Under Abendroth's leadership, the orchestra gained a reputation for its high-quality performances and innovative programming. During World War II, the orchestra was disbanded and many of its members were conscripted into the German military. After the war, the orchestra was re-established under the name of the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and began to rebuild its reputation as one of Germany's leading orchestras. In the 1950s and 1960s, the orchestra was led by the conductor Herbert Kegel, who brought a new level of artistic excellence to the ensemble. Kegel was known for his innovative programming and his commitment to contemporary music, and he helped to establish the orchestra as a leading interpreter of the works of composers such as Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Stravinsky. In the 1970s and 1980s, the orchestra continued to thrive under the leadership of conductors such as Wolf-Dieter Hauschild and Max Pommer. During this period, the orchestra performed extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and it gained a reputation for its dynamic and powerful performances. In the 1990s, the orchestra underwent a period of transition as it adapted to the changing cultural landscape of post-reunification Germany. The orchestra was renamed the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1992, and it began to focus more on contemporary music and on collaborations with other artists and ensembles. In recent years, the orchestra has continued to build on its legacy of artistic excellence and innovation. The orchestra's current chief conductor is Kristjan Järvi, who has led the ensemble since 2012. Under Järvi's leadership, the orchestra has continued to explore new musical territories and to collaborate with a wide range of artists and ensembles. The MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra has a core membership of around 90 musicians, many of whom are highly respected soloists and chamber musicians in their own right. The orchestra's principal conductor is the violinist Stefan Arzberger, who has been a member of the ensemble since 2008. Over the years, the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and festivals. The orchestra has also recorded extensively, with a discography that includes more than 200 recordings of classical and contemporary music. Some of the highlights of the orchestra's performances include its appearances at the Salzburg Festival, the BBC Proms, and the Berlin Philharmonic. The orchestra has also collaborated with a wide range of artists and ensembles, including the pianist Lang Lang, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. The MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra has received numerous awards and accolades over the years. In 2015, the orchestra was awarded the Echo Klassik award for its recording of the music of the composer Hans Werner Henze.

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