Dresden - affinity between music and architecture

The Semper Opera House in Dresden is located close to the famous Picture Gallery in the Baroque Zwinger Palace and within sight of the Church of Our Lady. The Semer Opera houses the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden (Saxon State Opera) which is world famous for its first-rate ensemble and international guest performers. The Staatskapelle (State Orchestra), one of the most traditional orchestras in the world, plays here - this company has been in existence continuously for 460 years. The opera choir, founded in 1817 by Carl Maria von Weber, is also famous beyond Germany's borders due to its concerts and CD productions with the Staatskapelle. Opera and music history has been written in Dresden by music directors and composers such as Heinrich Schütz, Johann Adolf Hasse, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, and by conductors such as Ernst von Schuch, Fritz Busch, Karl Böhm, Joseph Keilberth, Kurt Sanderling and Giuseppe Sinopoli. Wagner earned his reputation with the premieres of his first great dramas, while Strauss did the same with nine premieres, whereof the first was "Salome". The traditional and the modern have accompanied each other here for centuries through the successful concept of trying new things.

After having been destroyed in 1945 during the last few months of the war, the Semper Opera was restored and reopened in 1985 as one of the most beautiful opera houses in Europe. With the 2009/2010 season, it has been 25 years since!