Staatskapelle Dresden

Staatskapelle Dresden
Orchestra
Founded	1548
Concert hall	Semperoper
Principal conductor	Christian Thielemann
Website	www.staatskapelle-dresden.de

The Staatskapelle Dresden (officially known in German as the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden) is an orchestra based in Dresden, Germany founded in 1548 by Maurice, Elector of Saxony. It is one of the world's oldest orchestras. The precursor ensemble was Die Kurfürstlich-Sächsische und Königlich-Polnische Kapelle (The Saxony Elector and Royal Polish Band).

The orchestra is the musical body of the Sächsische Staatsoper (Saxon State Opera). Venue of the orchestra is the Semperoper opera house.

History

The orchestra has had many eminent chief conductors. Heinrich Schütz was associated with it early in its existence, and in the nineteenth century Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner were both chief conductors.

In the twentieth century, Richard Strauss became closely associated with the orchestra as both conductor and composer, which premiered several of his works. Karl Böhm and Hans Vonk were notable among the orchestra's chief conductors in that they served as chief conductors of both the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the State Opera simultaneously. Herbert Blomstedt was musical director of the Staatskapelle from 1975 to 1985.

Present

In 1990, the Staatskapelle elected Colin Davis as its first (and so far only) 'conductor laureate', a position that he held until his death in 2013.^[1]

Giuseppe Sinopoli was chief conductor from 1992 until his sudden death in 2001. Bernard Haitink replaced him in August 2002, but resigned in 2004 over disputes with the Staatskapelle's Intendant, Gerd Uecker, on the orchestra's choice of successor.^[2] In August 2007 Fabio Luisi began his tenure as chief conductor after having appointed as far back as January 2004. He shared with Böhm and Vonk the historic distinction of being chief conductor of both the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the Sächsische Staatsoper simultaneously. Luisi was scheduled to step down as chief conductor in 2012 in accord with the October 2009 announcement of Christian Thielemann as the orchestra's next chief conductor, effective with the 2012-2013 season.^[3] But Luisi resigned as chief conductor of the Staatskapelle in February 2010, effective immediately, after reports that the management had secured a contract with the ZDF network for a scheduled televised concert on New Year's Eve 2011 without consulting him at all in his capacity as the orchestra's GMD.^[4]

The orchestra has named Myung-Whun Chung as its first-ever principal guest conductor, effective as of the 2012–2013 season.^[5]

In 2007, the orchestra inaugurated the post of Capell-Compositeur or composer-in-residence, each appointed composer holding the post for one concert season. The first Capell-Compositeur was Isabel Mundry; and for the 2011–12 season, Lera Auerbach.^[6]

In April 2007, the European Cultural Foundation awarded the orchestra a prize "zur Bewahrung des musikalischen Weltkulturerbes" (for preservation of the world's musical heritage"). In June 2011, the orchestra was announced as the new resident orchestra of the Salzburg Easter Festival, as of 2013.^[5]

Kapellmeister and Chief Conductors

1548–1554 Johann Walter 1555–1568 Mattheus Le Maistre 1568–1580 Antonio Scandello 1580–1584 Giovanni Battista Pinelli 1587–1619 Rogier Michael 1615–1672 Heinrich Schütz (Hofkapellmeister) 1654–1680 Vincenzo Albrici 1656–1680 Giovanni Andrea Bontempi 1666–1688 Carlo Pallavicini 1688–1700 Nicolaus Adam Strungk (Hofkapellmeister) 1697–1728 Johann Christoph Schmidt (Hofkapellmeister) 1717–1719 Antonio Lotti 1717–1729 Johann David Heinichen 1725–1733 Giovanni Alberto Ristori

1733–1763 Johann Adolph Hasse (Hofkapellmeister) 1776–1801 Johann Gottlieb Naumann (Hofkapellmeister) 1802–1806 Ferdinando Paer (Hofkapellmeister) 1810–1841 Francesco Morlacchi (Hofkapellmeister) 1816–1826 Carl Maria von Weber (Hofkapellmeister) 1826–1859 Carl Gottlieb Reißiger (Hofkapellmeister) 1843–1848 Richard Wagner (Hofkapellmeister) 1850–1880 Carl August Krebs 1874–1877 Julius Rietz 1877–1884 Franz Wüllner 1884–1914 Ernst von Schuch 1914–1921 Fritz Reiner 1922–1933 Fritz Busch

1934–1943 Karl Böhm 1943–1944 Karl Elmendorff 1945–1950 Joseph Keilberth 1949–1953 Rudolf Kempe 1953–1955 Franz Konwitschny 1956–1958 Lovro von Matačić 1960–1964 Otmar Suitner 1964–1967 Kurt Sanderling 1966–1968 Martin Turnovský 1975–1985 Herbert Blomstedt 1985–1990 Hans Vonk 1992–2001 Giuseppe Sinopoli 2002–2004 Bernard Haitink 2007–2010 Fabio Luisi 2012–present Christian Thielemann

Composers-in-residence

• Isabel Mundry (2007–2008)
• Bernhard Lang (2008–2009)
• Rebecca Saunders (2009–2010)
• Johannes Maria Staud (2010–2011)
• Lera Auerbach (2011–2012)

See also

• Semperoper

References

1. Staatskapelle Concert plan 2012-13 p 16
2. Andrew Clark (2004-10-22). "Bernard Haitink: unfinished symphony". Financial Times. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
3. "Christian Thielemann wird Chefdirigent der Staatskapelle Dresden" (Press release). Staatskapelle Dresden. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
4. Daniel J. Wakin (2010-02-04). "Saxon State Opera's Music Director Quits". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-02-06.
5. "Staatskapelle Dresden to become orchestra for the Salzburg Easter Festival, and Christian Thielemann the festival's Artistic Director" (Press release). Staatskapelle Dresden. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
6. "Capell-Compositeur 2011/2012". Staatskapelle Dresden. Retrieved 22 December 2011.

External links

• Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden website
• English-language history of the orchestra, official website
• Homepage of the Semperoper
• Performances and ticket sales of the Semperoper
• "Europäische Kulturpreisverleihung am 26. April 2007 in Brüssel", European Cultural Foundation, photo posting, 31 December 2007
• Staatskapelle Dresden at AllMusic