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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Edition Staatskapelle Dresden, Vol. 40 (Live)
Staatskapelle Dresden, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Bernard Haitink
Symphonic Music - Released by Profil on Jan 6, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peter Schreier sings Mozart Arias
Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Miscellaneous - Released by Berlin Classics on Jan 1, 1989
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphony No. 8
Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Classical - Released by Brilliant Classics on Jan 18, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Violinkonzert D-Dur, Op. 35
Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Funke, Hans Vonk
Classical - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gods, Kings & Demons
René Pape, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sebastian Weigle
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss, R.: Josephs Legende
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ingvar Wixell sings Verdi (8 arias for baritone)
Ingvar Wixell, Staatskapelle Dresden, Silvio Varviso
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss, R: Violin Concerto, Op. 8, Burleske for Piano and Orchestra & Panathenäenzug, Op. 74
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Aug 2, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
STRAUSS, II: Tales from the Vienna Woods / STRAUSS, J.: Spharenklange / LEHAR, F.: Gold and Silver (Dresden Staatskapelle, Kempe)
Rudolf Kempe, Dresden Staatskapelle
Classical - Released by Berlin Classics on Jan 1, 1994
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Op. 59, TrV 227
Opera - Released by Profil on Jul 21, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Opera Overtures, Choruses and Duets
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner
Classical - Released by Brilliant Classics on Feb 22, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Staatskapelle Dresden - Mozart & Haydn
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on Mar 11, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Betrachte, meine Seel
Thomas Quasthoff, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sebastian Weigle
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
R. Strauss : Eine Alpensinfonie - Till Eulenspiegel
Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
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 -
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (Remastered)
Herbert Blomstedt, Staatskapelle Dresden
Symphonic Music - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1978
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel
Staatskapelle Dresden, Otmar Suitner, Dresdner Kreuzchor, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam
Opera - Released by Eterna on Jan 1, 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio (Highlights)
Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Dec 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner : Symphony No.4 "Romantic"
Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BOIELDIEU, F.-A.: Harp Concerto in C major / GINASTERA, A.: Harp Concerto, Op. 25 (Zoff, Dresden Staatskapelle, Kurz)
Jutta Zoff, Siegfried Kurz, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by Eterna on Feb 16, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo