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STAATSKAPELLE DRESDEN – MDR FIGARO – HÄNSSLER PROFIL
A Success-StoryNovember 2005 saw the birth of a unique union: in editorial partnership with FIGARO, MITTELDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK's cultural radio station, the Sächsische Staatskapelle of Dresden agreed to release great moments in music on the Profil label.
Concerts with global appeal
Live recordings of concerts given by the STAATSKAPELLE DRESDEN are now available to the public. The releases are based on a regular series of live recordings made since 1992 by the cultural radio station of MITTELDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK now known as MDR FIGARO - formerly MDR KULTUR - and broadcast in its programmes or passed to the EBU (European Radio Union located in Geneva) for transmission worldwide. Often the concert recordings were taken up by as many as 35 radio stations, including broadcasters in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and in Europe by the BBC, Radio France, RAI Italy, ORF (Austrian Radio) or stations in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia and Switzerland.
The secret of this edition is the great collaboration and communication between MDR FIGARO, members of the Staatskapelle Dresden and their former dramaturgist Eberhard Steindorf (who upon the last thirty years has accompanied almost every radio production and therefore knows the individual ‘secrets” of each recording selected) and last but not least our technician Holger Siedler and his THS-Studio in Dormagen (Germany). Further more one has to mention the “German Radio Archive” (Deutsche Rundfunkarchiv - DRA) which holds in his stock all the recording of the GDR-Period. Due to a very exlusive and unique contract between DRA and MDR FIGARO PROFIL will be able to publish also the finest recordings of this period. The result of this great teamwork are fascinating CD-issues that preserve the more than 450 year musical tradition of the Dresden Staatskapelle for all time and captivate the listener.
Fritz Busch, Karl Böhm , Colin Davis and Giuseppe Sinopoli
The aim of this comprehensive CD series to be released over a period of time is to present the great moments of the orchestra's concerts over the past 13 years. The “Edition Staatskapelle Dresden“ series starts with up-to-the-minute recordings under the baton of Sir Colin Davis (Elgar's Symphony No. 1 plus symphonies by Sibelius and Mendelssohn) coupled with historic recordings featuring great conductors, including Act III of “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg“ conducted by Karl Böhm and the violin concertos of Tchaikovsky and Mozart featuring soloist David Oistrakh conducted by Franz Konwitschny. By now other great conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Bernard Haitink and others have their place in this Edition.
In spring 2007 the first CD with the late Giuseppe Sinopoli at the baton will enrich the Edition. The first recordings to be published will be 9. Sinfonie by Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss’ “Tod und Verklärung”. These MDR broadcasts were recorded only a few weeks before the maestro suddenly passed away at the early age of only 55 years. Therefore these recordings are historical documents of highest historical value.
Digitally Remastered
The series is rounded off by numerous historic recordings, many of which are being re-released after having been digitally restored for the first time. The recording tradition of the Sächsische Staatskapelle goes back to the era of the legendary Fritz Busch. In the mid-1920s he recorded the first works with the orchestra, followed by Karl Böhm, Karl Elmendorff, Kurt Striegler, Franz Konwitschny and many others. Most of these recordings were made in the old Semperoper with its unique acoustics.
Meticulous digital remastering allows that acoustic effect to be heard again, in some cases after more than 60 years. One especially impressive example of this is Act III of Wagner's “Mastersingers“ from 1938, which marks the launch of the “historic section“ of the series.
Profile with prospects
These carefully remastered recordings are being released on the Profil Edition Günter Hänssler label. The name PROFIL is its programme: the link between an innovative, dynamic choice of artists and characteristic repertoire policy is at the heart of the Profil label headed by Günter Hänssler. The former co-founder and managing director of the successful Hänssler CLASSIC label describes his motto thus: “Only a classical label with a clear profile has a realistic prospect of success in today's classical market! Discerning classical music connoisseurs of today want originality and independence.“
Elgar
„ … the Elgar is very special, and I’m inclined to place it among the best currently available.”
BBC Music Magazine Februar 2006
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„(...) I, for one, know that these two CDs have rarely been out of my CD player for almost two weeks and am certain that I will pull the set out repeatedly over the years.”
Scott Morrison (Amazon), February 2006, on the release of the Meistersinger, 3rd Act from1938 conducted by Karl Böhm
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„(….) If you want Colin Davies at his best, here is the disc to get…immensely exciting….5 stars **** …fascinating choose this album! (Editor’s Choice)”
“The Gramophone” on the first Colin Davis Releases
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„(...) This is not only a masterful account of the symphony, it is in marvelous sound (it was recorded in 1988) and, best of all, the SKD sounds absolutely first-rate here. All departments of the orchestra shine. In the first few bars, with those throbbing string chords that never fail to move one, the depth and honeyed tone of the SKD strings is viscerally exciting. Indeed, this is some of the best orchestral string playing I've ever heard. (...)Another Sibelian triumph for Sir Colin and worth every penny of its asking price.”
Scott Morrison (Amazon), April 2006 on Sir Colin Davis conducting “Sibelius”
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„(...) I loved these performances. Sound, although mono, is quite good for its era. I am glad Profil and the Dresden Staatskapelle saw fit to release them. To the best of my knowledge neither has been available before, or at least recently. ”
Scott Morrison (Amazon), May 2006 on Oistrakh: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
- PROFIL MEDIEN GmbH -