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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Symphonies - Released by Berlin Classics on 30 Nov 2005
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Schumann : Symphonies Nos.1 - 4
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R. Strauss: Tone Poems
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Dresdner Kreuzchor, Staatskapelle Dresden, Rudolf Mauersberger
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Liszt : Dante-Symphony - Busoni : Sarabande, Cortège
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Symphonie des jouets
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16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104 "Romantic" (1878/1880 Version, Ed. L. Nowak) [Live]
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David Oïstrakh, Igor Oïstrakh, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Franz Konwitschny
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Verdi: Opera Choruses
Chor der Staatsoper Dresden, Staatskapelle Dresden, Silvio Varviso
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Brahms: Symphonies / Overtures (Live At Semperoper, Dresden)
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Mozart: Exsultate, Jubilate - Geistliche Arien für Sopran
Edith Mathis, Staatskapelle Dresden, Dresdner Kapellknaben, Bernhard Klee
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1979
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Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4; 32 Variations On An Original Theme
Claudio Arrau, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Overtures & Intermezzi
Silvio Varviso, Staatskapelle Dresden
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 12 Mar 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anton Bruckner : Symphony No. 5
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Beethoven: The Symphonies
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Mozart : The Abduction from the Seraglio
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Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1974
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Dvorák : Stabat mater, Op.58
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Borodin: Symphonie No. 2 & Dans les steppes de l'Asie centrale - Tchaikovsky: Roméo et Juliette (Stereo Version)
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Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
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Strauss: Elektra
Staatskapelle Dresden, Karl Böhm
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1961
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