The MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra is Germany’s oldest radio orchestra. In addition to its regular presence on the radio, television, and internet, it delights a wide public with its concerts in the area served by MDR and beyond. On a worldwide scale, the orchestra can be heard via the European Broadcasting Union (EBU/UER), on tour, and at guest performances. As a successor to Hermann Abendroth, Herbert Kegel, Wolf-Dieter Hauschild, Fabio Luisi and Jun Markl, Kristjan Jarvi has been principal conductor since the 2012/13 season, with the orchestra winning the European Culture Award in 2013.

The orchestra is rooted in the region of Saxony, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thuringia, an area whose musical landscape has been shaped by composers such as J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Schumann, Liszt and Kurt Weill. Recent guest conductors have included Roger Norrington, Adam Fischer, Krzysztof Urbański, Tan Dun, Stefan Asbury, James Gaffigan, Markus Stenz, Alain Altinoglu, Roberto Abbado and Santtu-Matias Rouvali. The orchestra has recorded for a number of leading labels, as well as for film soundtracks.

A MAN OF THE WORLD – Jeremy Siepmann talks to the conductor Jun Märkl

Photo: Peter Adamik