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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Bruckner: Symphony No. 2 (1877 Version)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Eugen Jochum
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Feb 7, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ariadne auf Naxos
Rudolf Kempe, Staatskapelle Dresden, Gundula Janowitz, Peter Schreier, Hermann Prey
Opera - Released by Warner Classics on Jan 1, 1968
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107 - Wagner: Das Liebesmahl der Apostel, WWV 69 (Staatskapelle Dresden Edition, Vol. 38)
Classical - Released by Profil on May 6, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 "The Great"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Jeffrey Tate
Classical - Released by Eterna on Aug 6, 2021
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Ravel: Boléro / Glinka: Jota Aragonesa / Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien / Chabrier: España
Sir Neville Marriner, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 6
Staatskapelle Dresden, Eugen Jochum
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Feb 28, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gods, Kings & Demons (Opera Arias)
René Pape, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sebastian Weigle
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tonight - Welthits von Berlin bis Broadway (Live)
Renée Fleming, Klaus Florian Vogt, Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 10, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Staatskapelle Dresden, Eugen Jochum
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Jan 1, 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel
Ann Murray, Edita Gruberova, Franz Grundheber, Gwyneth Jones, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier
Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
Herbert Blomstedt, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by Denon on Aug 30, 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 (1878 Version)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Eugen Jochum
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Feb 21, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Symphonies (Intégrale)
Classical - Released by Brilliant Classics on Jan 1, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Sinfonien No. 3 & 4 "Die Tragische"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1982
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral" (Remastered)
Herbert Blomstedt, Staatskapelle Dresden
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1978
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Sinfonien No. 7 "Die Unvollendete" & 8 "Die Große"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live Aus Der Semperoper - The Lehár Gala From Dresden
Angela Denoke, Ana Maria Labin, Piotr Beczala, Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: La Clemenza di Tito
Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1979
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3; Piano Sonata No. 6
Claudio Arrau, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CHRISTMAS CAROLS (Schreier)
Peter Schreier, Thomanerchor Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch
Christmas Music - Released by Eterna on Sep 17, 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo