Staatskapelle Dresden, founded by Prince Elector Moritz von Sachsen in 1548, is one of the world's oldest and most historically significant symphony orchestras. Richard Wagner praised the orchestra's sound as magical, with the power to move even the most stubborn of stones and build cities through music, akin to the harp music of Zeus' son, Orpheus. In 2007, the orchestra became the first and, to this day, the only one to be awarded the "European Prize for the Preservation of the World's Musical Heritage" title by the European Heritage Association. Christian Thielemann has been the orchestra's principal conductor since the 2012-2013 season and has made significant contributions during his tenure, particularly in celebrating the anniversaries of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.