German symphony orchestra from München (Munich). Founded in 1893 by Franz Kaim and known as the Kaim Orchester. Anton Bruckner pupil Ferdinand Löwe established an enduring tradition of Bruckner performances which continues to this day. Around 1910 was known as the Orchester des Münchner Konzertvereins and in 1928 acquired its current name. In 1979 Sergiu Celibidache took over as chief conductor raising the orchestra to the highest world-class standards. Following the wartime destruction of its old home, the so-called »Tonhalle« on the Türkenstrasse, the orchestra spent over forty years in Herkulessaal, München. Since 1985, the home of the orchestra is the Gasteig, München.
For chamber orchestra use Philharmonisches Kammerorchester München and Kammerorchester Der Münchner Philharmoniker.
For choir/chorus use Philharmonischer Chor München.
Own label of the Münchner Philharmoniker: Münchner Philharmoniker.
Principal Conductors
Hans Winderstein (1893-1895)
Hermann Zumpe (1895-1897)
Ferdinand Löwe (1897-1898)
Felix Weingartner(1898-1905)
Georg Schnéevoigt (1905-1908)
Ferdinand Löwe (1908-1914)
Orchestra inactive from 1915 to 1918 due World War I.
Hans Pfitzner (1919-1920)
Siegmund von Hausegger (1920-1938)
Oswald Kabasta (1938-1944)
Hans Rosbaud (1945-1948)
Fritz Rieger (1949-1966)
Rudolf Kempe (1967-1976)
Sergiu Celibidache (1979-1996)
James Levine (1999-2004)
Christian Thielemann (2004-2011)
Lorin Maazel (2012-2014)
Valery Gergiev (2015-2022)
Lahav Shani (since 2026)