Staatskapelle Dresden celebrates Beethoven, Mahler and Blomstedt

The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden is celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven extensively in the new season. Music fans can look forward to a Beethoven festival to mark the 200th anniversary of his death. Under the direction of chief conductor Daniele Gatti, the orchestra will perform all of Beethoven's symphonies twice on four consecutive evenings. In addition, four young composers have been commissioned to write dialog pieces, the Staatskapelle announced.

Beethoven should appear as a "living composer"

Gatti sees the composer as anything but a museum composer. "Beethoven's symphonies can always be re-read and re-examined in a wide variety of forms and approaches," said the Italian. Many musicians have devoted time and energy to discovering and exploring the "mystery of Beethoven". Beethoven was a "living composer". The task is to keep exploring him anew and to uncover contemporary messages in his works.

Diverse accompanying program for the Beethoven anniversary

The accompanying program includes the symposium "Beethoven, our contemporary", the concert series "Late Night with Ludwig" in the palace chapel, a concert lounge, the chamber matinee "Beethoven in person" and a program for the "Kapelle-für-Kids" series. Art talks and special guided tours are planned in cooperation with the Dresden State Art Collections. The cycle "Beethoven. Four Days. Nine Symphonies" cycle on tour in Vienna in April 2027 and in Spain in May.

Blomstedt to perform in Dresden again in his 100th year

Beethoven is not the only jubilarian in the Staatskapelle's repertoire: Its honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt is to conduct his former orchestra again in his 100th year. Brahms' "Nänie" and his 4th Symphony will be performed at the concert to commemorate the destruction of Dresden in the Second World War. Blomstedt was head of the Staatskapelle from 1975 to 1985 and is revered in Dresden.

Mahler cycle continues - Jörg Widmann "Capell-Compositeur"

The Staatskapelle will also continue its Mahler cycle. It will then focus on the composer's late works. The third programmatic pillar of the season focuses on the composer Jörg Widmann. The composer and clarinettist will act as both "Capell Compositeur" and "Capell Virtuoso" - two honorary titles awarded by the orchestra each season - to pick up on impulses from the past in order to enliven the present.

Renowned conductors and performers as guests

Renowned conductors and performers are also expected to make guest appearances with the Staatskapelle Dresden in the coming season. Among others, Robin Ticciati, Petr Popelka, Joshua Weilerstein, Sir András Schiff, Marie Jacquot, Tugan Sokhiev, Riccardo Minasi and Manfred Honeck will be on the podium. Soloists include violinist Vilde Frang and her colleague Leonidas Kavakos as well as pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Rudolf Buchbinder, Igor Levit and Seong-Jin Cho.

The Sächsische Staatskapelle plans to give more than 100 concerts in Dresden and on tour in the new season. The orchestra can already be heard at various festivals in September, including in Ljubljana, Verona and Merano. Performances in Switzerland, several German cities and Paris will follow at the end of October and beginning of November.