The Bayerisches Staatsorchester (Bavarian State Orchestra) is the orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera.
History
Founded in the times of Ludwig Senfl (1523) the orchestra, specializing in musica sacra, belonged to the finest ones in Europe already under Orlando di Lasso (1563). In 1651 the Italian opera was introduced in Munich. From 1762 onwards the orchestra was called "Hoforchester" (Court Orchestra) and with the revolution in 1918 the current name was introduced. The history of the Bavarian State Orchestra is very much connected with the Bavarian State Opera.
The orchestra had a long and successful cooperation (1968–1997) with Carlos Kleiber though he never served as its Music Director.Zubin Mehta was the music director of the Bavarian State Opera and Bavarian State Orchestra from 1998. He was succeeded by Kent Nagano in 2006.