The (DNT) is a German theatre and musical organisation based in

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state (Germany), state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in Central Germany (cultural area), Central Germany between Erfurt in the west and Jena in the east, approximately southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg an ...

. It is a twin institution, consisting of the theatrical (German National Theatre, now solely based in Weimar) and the

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 ...

known as the . It has a total of six stages across the city and also hosts touring orchestras and theatre companies, as well as making appearances in electronic media.

Venues

# Main House ('), traditional main stage on Theaterplatz (music and theatre) # Foyer and Studio Stage ('), within the main house on Theaterplatz (music and theatre;

cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dinin ...

) # ''E-Werk Weimar'', a former industrial site with two venues, ' and ' (music and theatre) # ' (concerts by the Staatskapelle Weimar)

The Staatskapelle Weimar

History

The precursor ensemble of Staatskapelle Weimar dates from 1482, with the formation of a musical ensemble in service of the Weimar '' Fürsten'' (Princes). In 1602, the ensemble attained resident status at the Weimar court, as the ''Herzoglichen Hofkapelle'' ( Ducal Court Ensemble). Notable musicians in the early history of the Staatskapelle Weimar included Johann Hermann Schein (1615–1616) and Johann Sebastian Bach (1705, 1708–1717), both of whom went on to the St. Thomas Church, Leipzig. Bach particularly worked as resident organist and ''

Kapellmeister (, also , ) from German ''Kapelle'' (chapel) and ''Meister'' (master)'','' literally "master of the chapel choir" designates the leader of an ensemble of musicians. Originally used to refer to somebody in charge of music in a chapel, the term ha ...

''. Johann Nepomuk Hummel served as the ensemble's ''Kapellmeister'' from 1819 to 1837, on the appointment by the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna. Franz Liszt began his tenure as ''Kapellmeister'' in 1842, and championed 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 ...

, Hector Berlioz, Peter Cornelius. Through this and his teaching activities, Liszt enhanced the prestige of Weimar as a musical hub, notably conducting the world premieres of Wagner's '' Lohengrin'' in 1850 and Cornelius's '' Der Barbier von Bagdad'' in 1858. After Liszt left in 1858, he was succeeded by Eduard Lassen who remained as director until his retirement in 1895. Lassen conducted several world premieres during his tenure, including the first performance of Camille Saint-Saëns's '' Samson et Dalila'' in 1877.

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer, conductor, pianist, and violinist. Considered a leading composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras, he has been described as a successor of Richard Wag ...

served as second ''Kapellmeister'' under Lassen from 1889 to 1894 and led the premieres of his own ''

Guntram Saint Gontrand (c. 532 in Soissons – 28 March 592 in Chalon-sur-Saône), also called Gontran, Gontram, Guntram, Gunthram, Gunthchramn, and Guntramnus, was the king of the Kingdom of Orléans from AD 561 to AD 592. He was the third eldest and ...

'' and Engelbert Humperdinck's ''

Hänsel und Gretel "Hansel and Gretel" (; german: Hänsel und Gretel ) is a German fairy tale collected by the German Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 in Grimms' Fairy Tales, ''Grimm's Fairy Tales'' (KHM 15). It is also known as Little Step Brother and Little ...

''. Peter Raabe became ''Kapellmeister'' in 1907. With the end of World War I and the dismantling of the German Empire, the ensemble was renamed the ''Weimar Staatskapelle''. Ernst Praetorius directed concert and

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libre ...

programming from 1924 to 1933. Because his wife was Jewish, Praetorius left the post after the National Socialists ascended to power in Germany in 1933. directed activities there during the Nazi regime. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and the end of the Nazi regime, Hermann Abendroth became ''Generalmusikdirektor'' (GMD) and chief conductor of the ensemble, serving from 1945 to 1956. Successive GMD's of the ensemble have included Gerhard Pflüger (1957–1973), Lothar Seyfarth (1973–1979), Rolf Reuter (1979–1980),

Peter Gülke Peter Ludwig Gülke (born 29 April 1934) is a German conductor and musicologist. Biography Born in Weimar, Gülke studied cello and musicology at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar. He completed his doctorate in philosophy in Leip ...

(1981–1982), Hans-Peter Frank (1988–1996), George Alexander Albrecht (1996–2002), Jac van Steen (2002–2005) and Carl St.Clair (2005–2008). Oleg Caetani was principal guest conductor of the ensemble from 1984 to 1987. The ensemble was officially renamed the ''Staatskapelle Weimar'' in 1988. In September 2009, the Swedish conductor Stefan Solyom became GMD of the ensemble, with an initial contract of five years. He concluded his Weimar tenure in July 2016. In July 2015, the ensemble announced the appointment of

Kirill Karabits Kyrylo Karabych ( uk, Кирило Карабиць); born 26 December 1976) is a Ukrainian conductor. Biography Early Life Karabits' father was the conductor and composer Ivan Karabyts. Karabits was born in Kyiv (then in the Ukrainian SS ...

as its next GMD and chief conductor, effective with the 2016–2017 season, with an initial contract of three years. In June 2018, the company announced that Karabits is to conclude his tenure as its GMD in the summer of 2019, following an inability to reach terms on a contract negotiation for extending his tenure. In June 2020, the company announced the appointment of Dominik Beykirch as its new chief conductor, effective with the 2020–2021 season. Beykirch had previously served as ''Zweite Kapellmeister'' and ''Erste Koordinierter Kapellmeister'' with the company.

General music directors

* Hermann Abendroth (1945–1956) * Gerhard Pflüger (1957–1973) * Lothar Seyfarth (1973–1979) * Rolf Reuter (1979–1980) *

(1981–1982) * Hans-Peter Frank (1988–1996) * George Alexander Albrecht (1996–2002) * Jac van Steen (2002–2005) * Carl St.Clair (2005–2008) * Stefan Solyom (2009–2016) *

(2016–2019) *

Dominik Beykirch Dominic is a name common among Roman Catholics and other Latin-Romans as a male given name. Originally from the late Roman-Italic name "Dominicus", its translation means "Lordly", "Belonging to God" or "of the Master". Variations include: Domini ...

(2020–present)

References

External links

*
Deutsches Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle — Home page
,
English
{{Authority control German orchestras National theatres Theatres in Germany 1480s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire 1482 establishments in Europe Organizations established in the 1490s Musical groups established in the 15th century Culture in Weimar Friedrich Schiller Buildings and structures in Weimar Tourist attractions in Thuringia Neoclassical architecture in Germany