Staatskapelle Halle

The Staatskapelle Halle assumed its current institutional identity only recently, but it was formed by merging several important predecessors and has had a long and distinguished history dating back centuries. With some 150 musicians when a full complement is performing, the group is among Germany's largest orchestras. The history of the Staatskapelle Halle is long and complex. The first symphony orchestra in the central German city of Halle, the Hallische Stadtorchester ("Halle City Orchestra"), was formed in 1852 with 30 musicians, but municipally organized music-making in Halle dates back to the formation of a court orchestra by Duke August of Saxony in 1654. The immediate predecessor of the Hallische Stadtorchester was the Stadtmusikcorps, established in 1833. In 1881, the Hallische Stadtorchester was renamed the Stadt- und Theaterorchester, and at various times since then, including today, the group has had a dual function as a symphonic ensemble and an opera orchestra. Other ancestors to the modern group were the Hallesche Orchester-Vereinigung ("Halle Orchestral Association"), established in 1907, and the Händelfestspielorchester ("Handel Festival Orchestra"), which grew out of the theater orchestra in 1957. The Händelfestspielorchester had more than a regional reputation, with major permanent conductors such as Kurt Masur, Klaus Tennstedt, and Thomas Sanderling. Another was the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Halle, founded as the Hallische Sinfonieorchester in 1946. The present orchestra was formed when that group merged with the Händelfestspielorchester in 2006. The new group soon made its recording debut, appearing on the soundtrack of the film Adam Wake in 2010. It was featured on several more film soundtracks. In accordance with the orchestra's multiple functions, conductors hold the title of Generalmusikdirektor. The first was Karlheinz Steffens (2008-2013); he was succeeded by Josep Caballé Domenech (2013-2018), Ariane Matiakh (for just six months in 2019 and 2020, whereupon she submitted her voluntary resignation), and Fabrice Bollon (2022-). In 2020, the Staatskapelle Halle made its debut as a featured artist on the Capriccio label, backing duo pianists Mona & Rica Bard on a recording of Max Bruch's Concerto for two pianos and orchestra. The group returned in 2024 on Naxos with a recording of the Richard Strauss ballet Josephs Legende, with Bollon as conductor.
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