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 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.
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. In August 2007 Fabio Luisi began his tenure as chief conductor, having been named to the post in 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, as of the October 2009 announcement of Christian Thielemann as the orchestra's next chief conductor, effective with the 2012-2013 season. However, Luisi resigned from the Staatskapelle chief conductorship in February 2010, with immediate effect, after reports that the Staatskapelle's 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.
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 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". The editors-in-chief of nine European music magazines elected the Staatskapelle Dresden as one of the top five orchestras in Europe.
Kapellemeisters 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
Composers-in-residence:
2007–2008 Isabel Mundry
2008–2009 Bernhard Lang
2009–2010 Rebecca Saunders
O Jesulein zart
Staatskapelle Dresden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
des Vaters Will'n hast du erfüllt,
bist kommen aus dem Himmelreich,
uns armen Mensehen worden gleich,
o Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild!
O Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild,
mit Freud' hast du die Welt erfüllt;
und tröst'st uns in dem Jammertal,
o Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild.
O Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild!
Hilf, dass wir tun alls, was du willt,
was unser ist, ist alles dein,
ach lass uns dir befohlen sein.
O Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild!
The lyrics to Staatskapelle Dresden's song "O Jesulein zart" speak of the tender and mild nature of Jesus. The song begins by acknowledging that Jesus fulfills the will of the Father and has come down from heaven to become like us, poor human beings. The repetition of "O Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild" emphasizes Jesus' gentle and compassionate nature.
The second verse highlights the joy that Jesus brings to the world. It describes how Jesus descends from the halls of heaven to comfort us in our times of sorrow, perhaps referring to the idea of Jesus being the source of hope and solace in the midst of suffering.
In the final verse, the song asks for Jesus' help in obeying His will. It speaks of the notion that everything we have belongs to Him, and we submit ourselves to Him. The prayerful tone of the lyrics reflects a desire to be obedient and surrendered to Jesus.
Overall, the lyrics of "O Jesulein zart" convey a sense of reverence and devotion towards Jesus, acknowledging His divine nature and seeking His guidance and comfort in the midst of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
O Jesulein zart, o Jesulein mild
Oh tender little Jesus, oh gentle little Jesus
des Vaters Will'n hast du erfüllt
You have fulfilled the will of the Father
bist kommen aus dem Himmelreich
You have come from the kingdom of heaven
uns armen Menschen worden gleich
You have become like us poor humans
mit Freud' hast du die Welt erfüllt
You have filled the world with joy
du kommst herab von's Himmels Saal
You come down from the hall of heaven
und tröst'st uns in dem Jammertal
And comfort us in the valley of sorrow
Hilf, dass wir tun alls, was du willt
Help us to do everything you will
was unser ist, ist alles dein
What is ours is all yours
ach lass uns dir befohlen sein
Oh, let us be entrusted to you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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