Weimar Staatskapelle
The Staatskapelle Weimar, founded in 1491, is one of the oldest orchestras in Germany and among the most illustrious in the world. Its history is closely associated to some of the world’s best known musicians such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss. Under the aegis of Duchess Anna Amalia, the Weimar court orchestra became the premier musical institution of “Classical Weimar” after 1759 and part of the newly founded Hoftheater Weimar in 1791. During the 19th century, the orchestra continued to attract attention due the achievements of Liszt and Strauss who improved its quality and reputation. The Hofkapelle Weimar was the first to perform numerous contemporary orchestral works such as Liszt’s Faust-Symphony, his symphonic poems including Les Préludes and Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration as well as operas such as Wagner’s Lohengrin, Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel and Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila.
Both in its extensive concert activities and opera productions at the Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, the Staatskapelle has worked to cultivate its great tradition in combination with innovative aspects. A wide range of CD recordings reflect its impressively diverse repertoire with works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwangler, and several contemporary composers. World-class soloists and conductors perform regularly with the Staatskapelle Weimar which is nationally and internationally renowned as a first-class concert orchestra. In past years, the ensemble has made guest appearances in Japan, Israel, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain and in the United States as well as at famous festivals and numerous major concert halls in Germany. With the start of the 2024/25 season, Ivan Repušić has taken over as chief conductor of Thuringia’s only A-orchestra.
