Founded in 2008 by conductor Gerd Schaller, the Philharmonie Festiva’s core cast are the musicians of the Munich Bach Soloists, the ensemble originally founded by Karl Richter. Enthusiastic receptions from audiences and critics at home and abroad have already greeted this new ensemble. The orchestra’s world premiere recording of the romantic opera Merlin by Carl Goldmark in 2010 garnered the prestigious ECHO Klassik Music Prize in the category of Best Opera Recording of the Year (19th c.). This release finds Mr. Schaller leading his orchestra in Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5.