Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Background information
Also known as	Saxon State Orchestra, Dresden
Origin	Dresden, Germany
Genres	Classical
Occupations	Symphony orchestra
Years active	1548-present
Associated acts	Kleine Szene Sächsische Staatsoper SemperOper Ballett Staatsopern Chorus
Website	www.staatskapelle-dresden.de
Members
Chief Conductor Fabio Luisi Conductor Laureate Colin Davis Composer in Residence Rebecca Saunders
Former members
Founder Maurice, Prince Elector of Saxony

The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden (Saxon State Orchestra, Dresden, commonly known as Staatskapelle Dresden) is an orchestra based in Dresden, Germany founded in 1548 by Kurfürst Moritz (Elector Moritz, or Maurice) 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 Chapel). The orchestra is the musical body of the Sächsische Staatsoper (Saxon State Opera). Venue of the orchestra is the Semperoper opera house.

The orchestra has had many eminent chief conductors. In its early years, Heinrich Schütz was associated with it, 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 it, as both a conductor and a composer, with several of his works being premiered by the ensemble. Karl Böhm and Hans Vonk were nptable 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.

Giuseppe Sinopoli was chief conductor from 1992 until his sudden death in 2001. In August 2002, Bernard Haitink took up the post, until his resignation in 2004 over disputes with the Staatskapelle's Intendant, Gerd Uecker, on the orchestra's choice of successor.^[1]. In August 2007 Fabio Luisi began his tenure as chief conductor, having been named to the post in January 2004. He shares with Böhm and Vonk the historic distinction of being chief conductor of both the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the Sächsische Staatsoper simultaneously. Luisi is scheduled to step down as chief conductor in 2012. In October 2009, the Staatskapelle announced the appointment of Christian Thielemann as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2012-2013 season.^[2]

In 2007 the orchestra inaugurated the post of Capell-Compositeur or composer-in-residence, each appointed composer holding the post for one concert season.^[3] The first Capell-Compositeur was Isabel Mundry, and the current holder of the post is the British composer Rebecca Saunders.

In April 2007, the orchestra became the first orchestra ever to be awarded the "Prize of the European Culture Foundation for the Preservation of the World’s Musical Heritage".^{[citation needed]}

The editors-in-chief of nine european music magazines elected the Staatskapelle Dresden as one of the top five orchestras in Europe.^[4]

Kapellemeisters and Chief Conductors

Composers-in-residence

• 2007–2008 Isabel Mundry
• 2008–2009 Bernhard Lang
• 2009–2010 Rebecca Saunders

References

External links

• Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden website
• English-language history of the orchestra, official website
• Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden at Allmusic