Cappella Sagittariana Dresden

The Dresdner Hofkapelle (Orchestra of the Court of Saxony), which emerged from the Sächsische Staatskapelle, was regarded as one of the leading orchestras of 17th century Europe. In the mid-1970s, musicians of the Staatskapelle started to take a profound interest in the repertoire of this court orchestra and founded the ensemble Cappella Sagittariana Dresden. Its work on the historical repertoire is based on the use of period instruments as well as attention to the rules of historically informed performance. 2006 saw an extensive change of generations which the musicians took as an opportunity for re-establishing the ensemble in the hallowed walls of the chapel of Dresden Castle. Since then the ensemble has also included members of the Dresden Philharmonic and independent early-music specialists. The Cappella Sagittariana is directed by Norbert Schuster, a member of the Dresden Philharmonic.