The current Munich Radio Orchestra was formalised in 1952, with Werner Schmidt-Boelke as its first chief conductor.
This work continued under the orchestra's next three chief conductors, all Italians, Giuseppe Patanè (1988–1989), Roberto Abbado (1992–1998), and Marcello Viotti (1998–2005).
In protest at these threats to the existence of the orchestra, Viotti resigned as chief conductor that year.
[6] During his tenure, Schirmer has conducted with the orchestra commercial recordings for the Bavarian Radio's own BR-Klassik label, including Karl Amadeus Hartmann's Des Simplicius Simplicissimus Jugend.
[9] In May 2016, the orchestra announced the appointment of Ivan Repušić [de] as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season.