Staatskapelle Dresden
The Staatskapelle Dresden (or Dresden State Orchestra), also known as the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, is one of Europe's oldest continuously operating performing arts organizations. It has numbered some of Europe's most famous composers and conductors among its music directors, and amid changing fashions, it has enjoyed an almost unbroken reputation for high quality.
The orchestra dates back to 1548, when Dresden was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was founded by the Elector Moritz of Saxony to accompany the court chorus in the new large choral compositions of the time. It evolved from an even older group, the Kurfürstlich-Sächsische und Königlich-Polnische Kapelle. During the 17th century, its music directors included Heinrich Schütz, who was closely associated with the orchestra for over half the century. As opera grew at the Dresden court, one of the orchestra's main functions was to accompany the leading German opera company of the day, and Johann Adolf Hasse was the Kapellmeister (or music director) from 1734 to 1763. The orchestra and opera persisted through the unrest of late 18th century Europe, emerging as an operatic center under Carl Maria von Weber in the early Romantic era. Other famous names to conduct the orchestra in opera were Richard Wagner -- who called it a "magic harp" and premiered Rienzi, Die fliegende Holländer, and Tannhäuser there -- and, later, Richard Strauss.
In 1858, the Staatskapelle Dresden began giving concerts of symphonic music, and here again, its reputation grew quickly. Music directors since the turn of the 20th century have included Fritz Reiner, Karl Böhm, Herbert Blomstedt, Bernard Haitink, and, since 2012, Christian Thielemann. In 2013, the Staatskapelle Dresden became the resident ensemble of the Salzburg Easter Festival, where Thielemann also serves as artistic director. In the 21st century, the orchestra began a composers-in-residence program; holders of position have included Hans Werner Henze, Sofia Gubaidulina (twice), Arvo Pärt, and, in 2021 and 2022, Matthias Pintscher.
The orchestra's recording catalog is large, including multiple releases almost every year since 1990 on such labels as Berlin Classics, Denon, and Deutsche Grammophon. In 2017, the orchestra, under Thielemann, released a recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 4 in E flat major ("Romantic"), on the Profil - Edition Günter Hänssler label. A live recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 1, with Thielemann once again leading the orchestra, was issued in 2021. Many of the Staatskapelle Dresden's historical performances have also been remastered and re-released.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Mozart: Flötenkonzert No. 1 / Oboenkonzert / Andante für Flöte
Staatskapelle Dresden, Johannes Walter, Kurt Mahn, Herbert Blomstedt
Klassiek - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 (1878 Version)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Eugen Jochum
Klassiek - Released by Warner Classics on 21 feb. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R. Strauss : Ein Heldenleben - Don Juan
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tschaikowski: Sinfonie No. 5
Staatskapelle Dresden, Siegfried Kurz
Symfonische muziek - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche
Herbert Blomstedt, Staatskapelle Dresden
Klassiek - Released by Denon on 1 jan. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
STAATSKAPELLE DRESDEN - Legendary Masterworks Recordings
Klassiek - Released by Berlin Classics on 6 okt. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, WAB 103 "Wagner Symphony" (Live)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Klassiek - Released by Profil on 14 okt. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Orchestral Works by Rudolf Kempe (2023 Remastered)
Rudolf Kempe, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden
Klassiek - Released by Alexandre Bak - Classical Music Reference Recording on 30 okt. 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No.9
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
WEBER, C.M. von: Euryanthe [Opera] (Norman)
Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Marek Janowski
Volledige opera's - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R. Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, TrV 233
Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Klassiek - Released by Archipel on 7 jan. 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphonies 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel (Highlights)
Sir Colin Davis, Staatskapelle Dresden
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Edition Staatskapelle Dresden, Vol. 45: Karl Böhm's Dresden Farewell Concert in 1979 (Live)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Margarete Teschemacher, Karl Böhm
Klassiek - Released by Profil on 17 mei 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
SCHUBERT, F.: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 8, "Unfinished" (Dresden Staatskapelle, Schreier)
Klassiek - Released by Berlin Classics on 17 mrt. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
MOZART, W.A.: Flute Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Andante, K. 315 (Walter, Dresden Staatskapelle, Blomstedt)
Johannes Walter, Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Klassiek - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franck: Sinfonie D-Moll
Staatskapelle Dresden, Kurt Sanderling
Symfonische muziek - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Sinfonie No. 1
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Symfonische muziek - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik / Serenata notturna / Symphony No. 29
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Symfonische muziek - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Iris Vermillion, Keith Lewis, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Staatskapelle Dresden
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
SCHUBERT, F.: Rosamunde / Overture to Die Zauberharfe (Cotrubas, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Radio Chorus, Boskovsky)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Ileana Cotrubas, Willi Boskovsky
Divers - Released by Eterna on 1 jan. 1978
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo