The Badische Staatskapelle is a

symphony orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, ce ...

based in

Karlsruhe Karlsruhe ( , , ; South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the third-largest city of the German state (''Land'') of Baden-Württemberg after its capital of Stuttgart and Mannheim, and the 22nd-largest city in the nation, with 308,436 inhabitants. ...

. The orchestra is affiliated with the Badisches Staatstheater (Baden State Theatre). The historical roots of the orchestra date back to 1662. The precursor ensemble was the ''Hofkapelle der Markgrafen von Baden-Durlach'' (Court Orchestra of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach). Early leaders of the orchestra included Giuseppe Beniventi (1712–1718), Casimir Schweizelsberger, Johann Philipp Käfer, and

Johann Melchior Molter Johann Melchior Molter (10 February 1696 – 12 January 1765) was a German composer and violinist of the late Baroque period. He was born at Tiefenort, near Eisenach, and was educated at the Gymnasium in Eisenach. By autumn 1717 he had left ...

, who led the orchestra for 40 years.

History

In 1733, the orchestra was disbanded during the conflicts with Poland. After the orchestra was re-established in Karlsruhe, Molter reapplied as leader of the orchestra in 1743, and served in the post until his death in 1765. After Molter's death, Giacinto Sciatti became Court ''Kapellmeister''. Joseph Aloys Schmittbaur took over the leadership of the ''Badische Hofkapelle'' following the death in 1777 of Sciatti. During that period, Christian Franz Danner served as ''Kapellmeister''. Later, the violinist and composer Johann Evangelist Brandl shared the directorship of the ensemble with Danner, and later became sole ''Kapellmeister''. In the 19th century,

Franz Danzi Franz Ignaz Danzi (15 June 1763 – 13 April 1826) was a German cellist, composer and conductor, the son of the Italian cellist Innocenz Danzi (1730–1798) and brother of the noted singer Franzeska Danzi. Danzi lived at a significant time in t ...

began as ''Hofkapellmeister'' in 1812. Josef Strauss succeeded Danzi and served in that capacity until 1863. The Bohemian composer and violinist Franz Pecháček was leader of the orchestra from 1826 to 1840.

Hermann Levi Hermann Levi (7 November 1839 – 13 May 1900) was a German Jewish orchestral conductor. Levi was born in Giessen, Germany, the son of a rabbi. He was educated at Giessen and Mannheim, and came to Vinzenz Lachner's notice. From 1855 to 1858 ...

served as ''Hofkapellmeister'' from 1864. Max Zenger, briefly after Levi, and then Felix Otto Dessoff from 1875, subsequently led the ensemble. Felix Mottl succeeded Dessoff and was a particular champion of the music of

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

. In the 20th century, the organisation received its current name in 1933, and the title of ''Hofkapellmeister'' evolved into ''Generalmusikdirector'' (GMD).

Joseph Keilberth Joseph Keilberth (19 April 1908 – 20 July 1968) was a German conductor who specialised in opera. Career He started his career in the State Theatre of his native city, Karlsruhe. In 1940 he became director of the German Philharmonic Orches ...

was the first to hold the title of GMD with the organisation, in one of his earliest conducting posts with this orchestra, from 1935 to 1940. In the years after World War II, Otto Mazerath, Alexander Krannhals and Arthur Grüber guided the orchestra.

Christof Perick Christof Prick (born 1946) is a German orchestra conductor. He uses the name Christof Perick in English-speaking countries. His father was the concertmaster of the Hamburg Philharmonic. Biography Born in Hamburg, Prick studied at the Univer ...

was ''Generalmusikdirektor'' (GMD) from 1977-1985. His successors have included Günther Neuhold (1989-1995) and

Kazushi Ono Kazushi (written: 和志, 和司, 和士, 和史, 一志 or 一至) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese manga artist *, Japanese rugby sevens player *, Japanese writer *, Japanese footballer *, Jap ...

(1996-2002). From 2002 to 2008,

Anthony Bramall Anthony Bramall (born 1957) is a British conductor. Career Born in London, Bramall studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and subsequently completed postgraduate studies in conducting there with Maestro Vilem Tausky. At the ...

was the orchestra's GMD. The British conductor Justin Brown became GMD of the orchestra in 2008.

''Hofkapellmeister''

* Michael Balling (1904-1907) * Georg Göhler (1907-1909) * Leopold Reichwein (1909-1913) * Fritz Cortolezis (1913-1925) *

Josef Krips Josef Alois Krips (8 April 1902 – 13 October 1974) was an Austrian conductor and violinist. Life and career Krips was born in Vienna. His father was Josef Jakob Krips, a medical doctor and amateur singer, and his mother was Aloisia, née Seit ...

(1926-1933) * Klaus Nettstraetter (1933-1935)

''Generalmusikdirektoren'' (General Music Directors, GMD)

(1935-1940) * Otto Matzerath (1940-1955) * Alexander Krannhals (1955-1961) * Arthur Grüber (1962-1976) *

(1977-1985) * José Maria Collado (1985-1987) *

Günter Neuhold Günter Neuhold (born 2 November 1947) is an Austrian conductor. Born in Graz, he attended the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz and graduated in 1968 with a master's degree. He later studied conducting with Franco Ferrara i ...

(1989-1995) *

(1996-2002) *

(2002-2008) * Justin Brown (2008-present)

External links

Badische Staatskapelle home page

* ttp://www.dirigent.at/ Günter Neuhold homepage {{Authority control German orchestras 1662 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire Musical groups established in the 17th century Karlsruhe Musical groups from Baden-Württemberg