Berlin Staatskapelle

The Staatskapelle Berlin is a German orchestra.  It is the orchestra of the Berlin State Opera (Berliner Staatsoper Unter den Linden).

The history of the orchestra goes back to 1570, when the Elector of Brandenburg started an orchestra at his court.  By the mid 18th century it was linked to the Royal Court Opera, started in 1742 by Frederick the Great. Famous musicians who have played with the orchestra include Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Franz Benda, and Johann Joachim Quantz

Giacomo Meyerbeer became Kapellmeister (Music Director), from 1842.  The orchestra started a series of public concerts.  They were the first orchestra to play the first performances of many famous pieces of music by Richard Wagner, Felix Mendelssohn, and Otto Nicolai.  

The orchestra's music director is called the "Staatskapellmeister".  He is also the music director of the Berlin State Opera.  Today the music director is Daniel Barenboim, who has had the job since 1992.  In 2000 Barenboim was given the title of "conductor for life".  Barenboim and the orchestra have made several recordings.

Conductors/Music Directors
 1759-1775 Johann Friedrich Agricola
 1775-1794 Johann Friedrich Reichardt (Hofkapellmeister)
 1816-1820 Bernhard Anselm Weber
 1820-1841 Gaspare Spontini
 1842-1846 Giacomo Meyerbeer
 1848-1849 Otto Nicolai
 1871-1887 Robert Radecke (Hofkapellmeister)
 1888-1899 Joseph Sucher
 1899-1913 Richard Strauss 1913-1920 Leo Blech (Hofkapellmeister)
 1923-1934 Erich Kleiber
 1935-1936 Clemens Krauss
 1941-1945 Herbert von Karajan
 1948-1951 Joseph Keilberth
 1954-1955 Erich Kleiber
 1955-1962 Franz Konwitschny
 1964-1990 Otmar Suitner
 1992-present Daniel Barenboim

Other websites
Berlin Staatskapelle website

Category:German orchestras