Karl Richter

Karl Richter is best known for his interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach's organ and choral works, particularly his recordings of the St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, and the Mass in B Minor. He led the Munich Bach Choir and Munich Bach Orchestra, both of which he founded in the 1950s. His recordings on the Archiv Produktion label remain reference recordings for many listeners.

Karl Richter founded the Munich Bach Choir in 1951 and subsequently established the Munich Bach Orchestra, dedicating both ensembles primarily to performing Bach's sacred works. The groups became closely associated with the annual Bach Week in Munich. Richter's recordings and concerts with these ensembles defined the mainstream German Bach performance tradition of the mid-20th century.

Karl Richter was born in 1926 in Plauen, Germany, and died in Munich in 1981 at the age of 54. He spent most of his career in Munich, where he also taught at the Munich Conservatory. Despite his relatively short life, he built an extensive and influential discography focused on Baroque sacred music.

Karl Richter's interpretations reflect the mainstream German performance tradition of the 1950s and 1960s, using larger choirs, modern instruments, and slower, more grandiose tempos than the leaner historically-informed performances that gained prominence in the 1980s. His approach has been criticized by period-instrument advocates but continues to be admired for its spiritual depth. Many listeners still consider his Bach Passions definitive for their emotional gravity.