Münchener Bach-Orchester

The **Münchener Bach-Orchester** (Munich Bach Orchestra) is a classical music ensemble based in Munich, Germany, that specializes in performing the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other Baroque composers. Founded in 1954 by conductor Karl Richter, the orchestra was originally created to provide instrumental accompaniment for Richter's newly formed Münchener Bach-Chor (Munich Bach Choir). However, it quickly became a prominent international ensemble in its own right, earning widespread acclaim for its interpretations of Bach and touring major cities including Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, and New York.

Before historically informed performance practice became the norm, the Münchener Bach-Orchester was nearly unrivaled in its field, known for its disciplined approach and expressive interpretations. The orchestra's reputation was built through extensive recordings with Deutsche Grammophon and collaborations with outstanding vocalists and instrumentalists of the 1960s and 1970s, including Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Fritz Wunderlich. After Karl Richter's leadership ended in 1981, the ensemble continued under conductors Hanns-Martin Schneidt and later Hansjörg Albrecht, who has led the orchestra since 2005 and brought it into the modern era of historically informed performance practice. A notable honor came in 1977 when a recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 directed by Richter was selected by NASA for inclusion on the Voyager Golden Record, a mission to carry examples of Earth's cultural diversity into space.

Genres

Baroque

Classical

Concerto

Choral

Chamber Music

Early Music

Sacred Music

Symphonic Music

Orchestral

Historical Performance

Latest Release

Mozart & Haydn: Flute Concertos

Aurèle Nicolet•

Münchener Bach-Orchester•

Karl Richter•

Christoph Willibald Gluck•

Joseph Haydn•

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Album - 14 Tracks - Released January 17, 2026