One of the world's oldest instrumental ensembles, the Bavarian State Orchestra participates in Bavarian State Opera productions but also performs independently as a symphonic group. The opera company and the orchestra are led by a single General Music Director, and some of the most famous figures in German musical history have held this position.
The ultimate origins of the Bavarian State Orchestra date back to 1523 when Bavarian court composer Ludwig Senfl established ongoing vocal and instrumental ensembles in Munich. The instrumental side got a boost in the 1560s, when the...