The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden has a decades-long tradition of performing an annual memorial concert on Dresden's memorial day, beginning in 1951 with Rudolf Kempe conducting Verdi's 'Messa da Requiem'.
Recording & Production
This recording was made during the COVID-19 pandemic, with no public audience present in the Semperoper, and was broadcast by Deutschlandfunk Kultur.
Historical Context
The concert on this album was a memorial concert held on February 13, 2021, commemorating the 1945 bombing of Dresden during World War II.
Performer Biography
Philippe Herreweghe, the conductor, studied medicine with a specialization in psychiatry in addition to his piano studies.
Performer Biography
Philippe Herreweghe was invited by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Gustav Leonhardt to participate in their complete recordings of J.S. Bach's cantatas.
Interpretation
Philippe Herreweghe, known for conducting Bach with Baroque orchestras, makes an exception for the Staatskapelle Dresden and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam.
Cultural Impact
The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden was the first and only orchestra to receive the 'European Prize for the Preservation of the World's Musical Heritage' in 2007.
