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
Similar artists
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Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Mono Version)
Irmgard Seefried, Kurt Böhme, Karl Böhm, Staatskapelle Dresden
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan 1, 2013
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Elektra, Extracts (Stereo Version)
Inge Borkh, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by BNF Collection on Jan 1, 1962
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Sinfonia Domestica, Op. 53 (Mono Version)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Franz Konwitschny
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan 1, 1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Les Noces (Mono Version)
Hermine Lux, Staatskapelle Dresden, Fritz Schreiber
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan 1, 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Concerto pour piano No. 1 (Mono Version)
Wilhelm Kempff, Franz Konwitschny, Staatskapelle Dresden
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan 1, 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64 (Mono Version)
Karl Böhm, Staatskapelle Dresden
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on Jan 1, 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Joseph Keilberth: Rare Recordings (1943-1957)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Bamberger Symphoniker, Wiener Symphoniker, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Joseph Keilberth
Classical - Released by Andromeda on Feb 11, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 – Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 (Live)
Carl Seemann, Staatskapelle Dresden, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Rudolf Kempe
Classical - Released by Archipel on Oct 30, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Probe zur 7. Sinfonie
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rudolf Kempe
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Sinfonie C-Dur / Sinfonie A-Dur
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2, Variations on an Original Theme & Variations on a Theme by Paganini
Wilhelm Backhaus, Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Biddulph Recordings on Jun 1, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Donizetti: Don Pasquale (Highlights - Sung in German)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Peter Schreier, Siegfried Kurz
Opera - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Johannes Walter spielt virtuose französische Flötenkonzerte
Johannes Walter, Staatskapelle Dresden, Siegfried Kurz
Classical - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart (A Homage) - 250 Year Celebration, Vol. 5 (Opera Gala)
Classical - Released by CapriccioNR on Jan 1, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Symphonies No. 39, 40 & 41 (Schätze der Klassik)
Staatskapelle Dresden & Otmar Suitner
Symphonies - Released by Berlin Classics on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonies of Life, Vol. 90 - Weber: Overtures Euryanthe, De Freischutz, Oberon, Abu Hassa
Classical - Released by Planet Blue Records on Jun 30, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Eisler: Klingende Dokumente II
Hanns Eisler, Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Classical - Released by Eterna on Nov 9, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Eugene Onegin
Dresden Boys Choir, Staatskapelle Dresden, Hans Vonk
Classical - Released by CapriccioNR on Mar 10, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
3. Klavierkonzert C Minor Op. 37 - Largo
Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Profil Edition Guenter Haenssler on Mar 15, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Rosamunde & Ouvertüre zu "Die Zauberharfe"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Ileana Cotrubas, Willi Boskovsky
Classical - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1978
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of Legends: Rudolf Kempe, Vol. 1
Staatskapelle Dresden, Berliner Philharmoniker, Rudolf Kempe
Classical - Released by Intense Media GmbH on Mar 27, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo