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Ensemble

Dresdner Kapellsolisten

The name Dresdner Kapellsolisten is a synonym for energetic and inspiring performances. In 1994, their passion for the historically informed performance practice of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic music repertoire brought the members of the ensemble together. Under the musical direction of their “first among equals”. Helmut Branny – one of the founding members – the Dresdner Kapellsolisten translate the language and stylistic elements of music into fascinating, lively interpretations. Great sound and the search for musical authenticity thereby go hand in hand.

Many of the musicians come from the world renowned Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. The size of the ensemble varies according to programme and repertoire. Typical of the ensemble’s approach is the thorough analysis of the context of surrounding a piece of music. All of the members are equally involved in this process. The musicians are called upon to contribute not just as part of the orchestra but also as individual soloists.

The intensive curation for chamber music’s wide-ranging heritage, bringing in all the relevant historical and stylistic advances to date, is just one of the ensemble’s focuses. The rediscovery of wrongly-forgotten or overlooked works is also particularly near for their hearts.  Their thoroughly-researched interpretations cast a spotlight on composers like Johann Gottlieb Naumann, Anton Teyber, Johann Baptist Neruda, Antonio Rosetti und Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel. Particular attention is given to the revival of works by composers connected with Dresden and its surrounding area, like Franz Seydelmann, Johann Georg Pisendel, Johann Gottlieb Graun, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Antonin Reichenauer, Johann David Heinichen, Antonio Lotti and Princess Amalia of Saxony. Contemporary music is yet another field of interest. Conducted by Helmut Branny they have performed several world premieres, e.g. of works by Rainer Lischka, Takashi Jashimatsu and Berthold Paul, and performed works by Wolfgang Rihm and Kazimeirz Serocki.

Multi-faceted engagements take the Dresdner Kapellsolisten to the important concert halls of Germany, e.g. Berlin Philharmonic, and to many renowned festivals like Rheingau Music Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Usedom Festival, Würzburger Mozartfest, Festival Mitte-Europa and Bad Kissinger Sommer. Further afield, the ensemble has also given concerts in Italy, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Japan. It has enjoyed working with celebrated soloists like Isabelle van Keulen, Viktoria Mullova, Jan Vogler, François Leleux, Maurice André, Axel Köhler, Danjulo Ishizaka, Matthias Görne, Alison Balsom, Albrecht Mayer, Peter Schreier und Peter Rösel as well as highly talented young musicians like Nils Mönkemeyer, Martin Stadtfeld, Dorothee Oberlinger, Gabór Boldóczki and Sergej Nakariakov. Also, the orchestra frequently works together with soloists from its own background – the Dresdner Staatskapelle. Over many years a strong collaboration has developed between the Dresdner Kapellsolisten under Helmut Branny and the famous Dresdner Kreuzchor. Numerous CD recordings give proof of the musical diversity covered by the orchestra.

One of the highlights of last season was the musical “Anatevka” at the Dresdner Musikfestspiele in the Schauspielhaus Dresden. The Dresdner Kapellsolisten toured to Meran and Brixen performing the “St. Mathews Passion” with the Dresdner Kreuzchor. Concerts in the Cologne Philharmonic, the Schauspielhaus in Berlin, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Festival Mitte Europa and the Lausitzer Music Summer Festival as well as a tour with the trumpet soloist Alison Balsom in Germany and Austria were very successful. The newly released CD “My Tunes 2” (SONY, release: June 2010) is a good example of its frequent work in collaboration with cellist Jan Vogler. The Dresdner Kapellsolisten received the German Music Award “Echo Klassik 2010” for the recording “Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten” with violist Nils Mönkemeyer. Further CDs are in progress. As well as being invited to the Leipziger Bachfest and the Choriner Music Sommer the Dresdner Kapellsolisten will be performing the opera “Teofane” by Antonio Lotti next Season.

During the last season the Dresdner Kapellsolisten accepted invitations to e.g. Munich, Cologne, Bielefeld and for the first time Warsaw, Maribor and Zagreb. In 2013/14 the chamber orchestra repeatedly worked with Dresdner Kreuzchor. Among others a remarkable performance succeeded in a tour concert in Linz/Austria with seldom played Oratory “Salomon” by G. F. Händel.

The ensemble is looking forward to a busy autumn/winter season, with concerts throughout Germany with very diverse programmes. Highlights are performances in the Berlin Philharmonic, in the Munich Prinzregententheater and Cologne Philharmonic. In the Dresden Semper Opera the Dresdner Kapellsolisten perform a concert with Wolfgang Rihm’s violin concerto „Lichtes Spiel“ (soloist: Susanne Branny), combined with B. Britten’s „Etudes for String Orchestra“ and Mozart’s Haffner-Symphony – one of the ensemble’s most stretching programmes and a real high point.

For the Japanese label King Records, the Dresdner Kapellsolisten and Peter Rösel are already recording the fourth CD of Mozart piano concertos. The ensemble will be Orchestra in Residence at the Schlossfestspiele Weilburg .

In the 2014/15 season the Dresdner Kapellsolisten celebrate their 20th anniversary. A Gala Concert in the Palais in the Great Garden Dresden will be the Jubilee’s highlight. Furthermore the orchestra will go on tour to Japan and for the first time to the Netherlands. A CD with Baroque Christmas Concertos for the label Ars Production will extend the discography of the orchestra.


Season 2013/14