Maki Mori & Dresdner Kapellsolisten

Helmut Branny is a “magician in front of his orchestra“, with the “masterly ability to put even the most sensitive musical idea into practice.” (Sächsische Zeitung). This is just one dimension to the conductor and bass player. As a member of the world renowned Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, musical director of the Dresdner Kapellsolisten and Cappella Musica Dresden, he can be considered a researcher and discoverer’ in the field of music. For many years, he has been interested in questions concerning the authentic interpretation of Early Music. He aims to awake and translate the language and stylistic elements of Baroque, Classical and Romantic Music into vivid and authentic sound. In his opinion, musical authenticity depends not just on closely studying the score, but also detailed analysis of the piece’s cultural and musical context. Sure instinct and detailed detection work help Helmut Branny find a way to the composer’s perspective and hence to the quintessence of his music.

With the Dresdner Kapellsolisten, Helmut Branny brings this message to audiences at home and abroad. He is the “first among equals” of the chamber orchestra, founded in 1994. Mainly musicians of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, they were united by their passion for the historically informed performance practice of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic Music repertoire. Concerts frequently take the Dresdner Kapellsolisten to important halls of Europe and Asia ? such as Berlin Philharmonia, Cologne Philharmonia, Mailänder Scala, Tokyo and Osaka – as well as to famous classical music festivals such as Rheingau Musik Festival, Bad Kissinger Sommer, MDR Musiksommer and Janáče-Festival in Ostrava (Poland). From the beginning. both audience and critics were enthusiastic about the orchestra’s stirring interpretations, the vast repertoire and the energetic performance style. Numerous CD recordings give audible proof of this inspiring collaboration.

Helmut Branny is also the conductor of the Cappella Musica Dresden – an ensemble founded in 1995 and driven by its enthusiasm and passion for music of different genres and musical periods. As one of the founders, his approach to music has significantly shaped the ensemble right from the beginning. With enthusiasm and idealism, the Cappella Musica commits themselves to performing an extensive repertoire including diverse styles and time periods. Furthermore, he is a sought-after chamber music partner e.g. for the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Freiburger Barockorchester, Mitteldeutsche Barocksolisten Leipzig and “Les Amis de Philippe” Bremen. For further projects he has worked together with the cellist Jan Vogler and the conductor Peter Schreier. Contemporary music is yet another field of interest. He conducted several world premieres e.g. of works by Rainer Lischka, Takashi Jashimatsu and Berthold Paul, and performed Wolfgang Rihm and Kazimeirz Serocki.

The various concert engagements all over Germany and abroad however do not decrease Helmut Branny’s close connection to Dresden, his home town and former place of studies. Besides being a full-time member of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, he has taught at the musical college Carl Maria von Weber since 1995, where he has been Professor of chamber music since 2003. His dedication to the important musical centres of Dresden is underlined by numerous concerts in the Church of Our Lady, at the Dresdner Musikfestspiele, as well as the Moritzburg Festival. Over many years a strong collaboration has developed with the famous Dresdner Kreuzchor.

One of the highlights of last season was the musical “Anatevka” at the Dresdner Musikfestspielein the Schauspielhaus Dresden. The Dresdner Kapellsolisten toured to Meran and Brixen performing the “St. Mathews Passion” with the Dresdner Kreuzchor.

He also conducted very successful concerts in the Cologne Philharmonia, the Berlin Schauspielhaus, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Festival Mitte Europa and the Lausitzer Music Summer Festival as well as a tour with the trumpet soloist Alison Balsom in Germany and Austria.

The newly released CD “My Tunes 2” (SONY – Release:June 2010) is a good example of his frequent work in collaboration with cellist Jan Vogler.

Amongst many other concerts next season Helmut Branny will be conducting the Dresdner Kapellsolisten performing the opera “Teofane” by Antonio Lotti at the H?ndel Festival. One of the numerous CDs in progress will feature concertos and symphonies by Haydn, Vanhal and Mozart.

Helmut Branny received the German Music Award “EchoKlassik 2010” for the recording “Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten” with violist Nils Mönkemeyer.

Last season Helmut Branny conducted the Dresdner Kapellsolisten in numerous concerts e.g. in Munich, Cologne, Bielefeld and for the first time in Maribor and Zagreb. He worked with Matthias Goerne and Jan Vogler, and recorded 2 CDs with Mozart Piano Concerts with Peter Rösel.

In 2013/14 Helmut Branny is invited to concerts throughout Germany, e. g. in Berlin Philharmonia, Munich and Essen. One of the highlights is a performance in the Dresden Semper Opera with works by Rihm, Britten and Mozart. Two more CDs with Mozart Piano Concerts with Peter Rösel enlarge the series for the Label Oktavia Records. Recordings of baroque Christmas Music (Ars Production) will extend his diverse discography.

At the Weilburger Schlossfestspiele Helmut Branny conducts the Dresdner Kapellsolisten as Orchestra in Residence.

In 2014/15 season Helmut Branny and the Dresdner Kapellsolisten celebrate their 20th anniversary. 2014 will include yet another tour to Japan.

Maki Mori studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, its graduate school, the Opera Studies Center of Agency for Cultural Affairs, and also in Milan and Munich. She is a winner of many competitions in Japan and abroad including Pl?cido Domingo’s Operalia Competition, and the recipient of Idemitsu Music prize, Washington Prize, and Hotel Okura Prize. She made U.S.A. debut at the Washington National Opera approved by Domingo.
She has performed with many renowned conductors as Seiji Ozawa, Chung Myung-Whun, and Fabio Luisi, as well as orchestras in the world and Japan. Maki Mori made great success “Der Rosenkavalier” at S?chsische Staatsoper Dresden in 2007,“Rinaldo” at the Edinburgh Festival in 2009,and as Musetta in La Boh?me at the Teatro Regio di Torino in 2010.

The name Dresdner Kapellsolisten is a synonym for energetic and inspiring performances.
In 1994 their passion for the historically informed performance practice of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic music repertoire united the members of the ensemble. Under the musical direction of their “Primus inter Pares” Helmut Branny” one of the founding members
– the Dresdner Kapellsolisten translate the language and stylistic elements of music into fascinating, vivid interpretations. Great sound and the search for musical authenticity thereby go hand in hand.

One of the major aims of the Dresdner Kapellsolisten is the continuous, historically and stylistically comprehensive care for the enormous heritage of chamber music. Another matter particularly near to the ensemble’s heart is the re-discovery of almost forgotten music.

Their thoroughly-researched interpretations cast the spotlight of today on composers like Johann Gottlieb Naumann, Anton Teyber, Johann Baptist Neruda, Antonio Rosetti und Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel.

Within this field particular attention is given to the revival of works by composers connected with the city or region of Dresden like Franz Seydelmann, Johann Georg Pisendel, Johann Gottlieb Graun and Antonio Lotti.

Multi-faceted engagements take the Dresdner Kapellsolisten to the important concert halls of Germany and to many renowned festivals like Rheingau Music Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Usedom Festival, Würzburger Mozartfest, Festival Mitte-Europa and Bad Kissinger Sommer. Travelling abroad the ensemble has also given concerts in Italy, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria and Japan. It has enjoyed working with celebrated soloists like Isabelle van Keulen, Viktoria Mullova, Jan Vogler, François Leleux, Maurice André, Axel Köhler, Danjulo Ishizaka, Matthias Görne, Alison Balsom, Peter Schreier und
Peter Rösl as well as highly talented young musicians like Nils Mönkemeyer, , Martin Stadtfeld, Gabór Boldóczki and Sergej Nakariakov. Over many years a strong collaboration has developed between the Dresdner Kapellsolisten under Helmut Branny and the famous Dresdner Kreuzchor.
The Dresdner Kapellsolisten received the German Music Award “Echo Klassik 2010”.