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: Konzertarien für Sopran und Orchester (3) (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Anonymous - Pietro Metastasio)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Eterna on Oct. 25, 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lortzing: Der Wildschütz
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Peter Schreier, Bernhard Klee
Opera - Released by Eterna on Feb. 26, 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berühmte Opernduette: Peter Schreier & Theo Adam (Karel Sabina - Bedrich Smetana - Michel Carre)
Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Opera - Released by Eterna on Jan. 1, 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BIZET, G.: Carmen [Opera] (Highlights) (Sung in German) (Fassbaender)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Philharmonischer Kinderchor Dresden, Giuseppe Patané
Opera - Released by Eterna on Jan. 1, 1973
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker
Christmas Music - Released by Cobra Entertainment LLC on Aug. 20, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Don Juan, Also sprach Zarathustra & Eine Alpensinfonie
Staatskapelle Dresden, Michel Schwalbé, Erich Muhlbach, Karl Böhm, Berliner Philharmoniker
Classical - Released by Urania Records on Dec. 1, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik / Serenata notturna D-Dur / Serenade F-Dur / Notturno D-Dur
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Classical - Released by Eterna on Jan. 1, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hornkonzerte (Antonio Vivaldi - Peter Damm - Johann Peter Fick)
Peter Damm, Istvan Vincze, Staatskapelle Dresden, Siegfried Kurz
Concertos - Released by Eterna on Jan. 1, 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana - Má Vlast
Paavo Berglund, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Jun. 27, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor "Unfinished"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jun. 23, 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Die Zauberflöte Highlights
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Classical - Released by Putlabel on Sep. 22, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Excerpts (Mono Version)
Tiana Lemnitz, Ferdinand Frantz, Staatskapelle Dresden, Rudolf Kempe
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan. 1, 1963
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Fidelio
Jessye Norman, Reiner Goldberg, Kurt Moll, Chor der Staatsoper Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden, Bernard Haitink
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan. 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven, Mozart & Strauss: Works for Orchestra
Staatskapelle Dresden, Friedrich Gulda, Franz Konwitschny
Classical - Released by Orfeo on Mar. 1, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rita Streich sings richard strauss
Rita Streich, Karl Böhm, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by G.O.P. on Jun. 25, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Haffner-Sinfonie / Linzer Sinfonie
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan. 1, 1970
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Melodies From 1001 Nights - Mozart, W. A. / Gluck, C. W. / Beethoven, L. Van / Cornelius, P. / Mussorgsky, M. / Verdi, G. / Bizet, G.
Classical - Released by Capriccio on Jan. 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Remastered)
Chor der Staatsoper Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suiter
Classical - Released by Eterna on Apr. 26, 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Wedding Favorites
Classical - Released by Capriccio on Mar. 22, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Concerto pour violon No. 5 (Mono Version)
David Oïstrakh, Franz Konwitschny, Staatskapelle Dresden
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan. 1, 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Aida (Highlights - Sung in German)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Giuseppe Patané
Opera - Released by Eterna on Jan. 1, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo