With almost 450 years of tradition, Staatskapelle Berlin is one of the oldest orchestras in the world. Originally founded as court orchestra by Prince Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg in 1570, the ensemble expanded its activities with the founding of the Royal Court Opera in 1742 by Frederick the Great. Ever since then, the orchestra has been closely tied to Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
Many important musicians have conducted the orchestra, both in the opera and in the regular concert series that have been held since 1842, among them, Gaspare Spontini, Felix Mendelssohn, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Richard Strauss, Erich Kleiber, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Franz Konwitschny and Otmar Suitner.
Since 1992, Daniel Barenboim has served as the orchestra’s general music director; in 2000, the orchestra voted him as conductor for life. He stepped down as music director in January 2023. At guest appearances that have brought the orchestra to the great European music centers, to Israel, the Far East, North and South America, the international top position of the orchestra has been proven. The performance of all symphonies and piano concertos of Beethoven in Vienna, Paris, London, New York and Tokyo, and the cycles of symphonies of Schumann and Brahms, the 10-part cycle of all important stage works by Wagner, and the performance of Wagner’s “Ring” Cycle in Japan 2002 are some of the most outstanding events.
In 2007, the symphonies and orchestral songs of Gustav Mahler were performed under Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez at Philharmonie Berlin. This 10-part cycle was also performed at Vienna’s Musikverein, as well as New York’s Carnegie Hall. Highlights in recent times were a nine-part cycle with symphonies by Anton Bruckner in Vienna (June 2012) and concert performances of Wagner’s “Ring” during the Proms in London (summer 2013). The celebrated Bruckner cycle was presented again in Suntory Hall Tokyo, as well in Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Philharmonie Paris.
A constantly growing number of recordings in both the operatic and symphonic repertoires documents the work of Staatskapelle Berlin. Most recently, recordings of all nine Bruckner symphonies, of the piano concertos by Chopin, Liszt and Brahms, as well as large symphonic works by Strauss, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Elgar and Debussy were released. In addition several opera productions were produced, among them, Wagner’s Tannhäuser and Parsifal, Verdi’s Il trovatore, Berg’s Lulu, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tsar’s Bride and Schumann’s Scenes from Goethe’s Faust.
On the 450th birthday of Staatskapelle Berlin, a CD edition with “Great Recordings” under important conductors was published, as well a book and an exhibition promoting the long and rich history of the orchestra.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
