In the Anniversary issue, the Theaters Around the World rubric takes us to Germany’s Saxon capital, Dresden.

The city was first mentioned in historical records in 1206, and it quickly became an important center of trade and commerce. In the 16th century, Dresden became the capital of the Electorate of Saxony, a powerful state in the Holy Roman Empire. During this time, the city experienced a period of great cultural and artistic development, with many magnificent buildings and works of art being built and created here. In the 18th century, Dresden became a major cultural center of Europe, with renowned artists, musicians, and writers making the city their home. This period is known as the “Golden Age” of Dresden, and it saw the construction of many of the city’s famous landmarks, including the Zwinger Palace, the Frauenkirche, and the Semperoper.

The Semperoper is one of the most famous and important opera houses in the world. It has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. The original Semperoper was built in 1841-1842 by Gottfried Semper. It quickly became one of the most important cultural institutions in Europe, attracting some of the greatest musicians and performers of the time.

Before the opening of Gottfried Semper’s first court theater

The Klengelsche opera house (1667), also known as the Prince Elector Opera House on the Taschneberg opens with a performance of Giovanni Andrea Moneglia’s Il Teseo. This building was designed by Chief Saxon Architect Wolf Caspar von Klengel. This opera house is the earliest precursor to the Semperoper. Dresden Opera was the third opera house to be built in the German-speaking nations, after Vienna (1651) and Münich (1657).

Under King Augustus the Strong, the Great Opera House at the Zwinger was opened. The Great Opera House was designed by Italian master builders Alessandro and Girolamo Mauro, together with Matthäus Pöppelmann and Balthasar Permoser. The opera house opened with a performance of Antonio Lotti’s Giove in Argo. This was the biggest theatre in Germany at the time but also one of the largest in Europe. It became the center of Baroque opera, closely linked to Johann Adolf Hasse.

In 1755 Pietro Moretti builds another theater near the Great Opera House: the Moretti Theatre, known as the Small Court Theatre. In the mid-1830s, the theatre is demolished to make way for a new building – Gottfried Semper’s first Royal Court Theatre.

First opera house by Gottfried Semper

Gottfried Semper’s opera was built between 1838 and 1841 and opens on 12th April with a performance of Carla Maria von Weber’s Jubilee Overture and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Torquato Tasso. Moreover, Richard Wagner premiered his operas Rienzi, The Flying Dutchman and Tannhäuser in Dresden.

In 1869 the building burns to the ground. Only a few weeks later, an erected interim theatre opens – Bretterbude. It opens with a performance of Weber’s Jubilee Overture and Goethe’s Iphigenie auf Tauris. In 1873, another theatre opens in Dresden, the Albert Theatre, named after the Saxon crown prince.

Second opera house by Gottfried Semper

The second Royal Court Theatre was constructed between 1871 and 1878. It opens on 2nd February with (once again) Weber’s Jubilee Overture and Goethe’s Iphigenie auf Tauris. Richard Strauss premiered his operas Feuersnot, Salome, Elektra and Der Rosenkavalier under Generalmusikdirektor Ernst von Schuch. In 1919 the Royal Court Theatre becomes the Saxon State Theatre.

After von Schuch, Fritz Busch becomes Generalmusikdirektor and opera director. He made his mark not only as an outstanding interpreter of the music of Strauss, Verdi and Puccini, but also through his great interpretations of Mozart, Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky. Busch was driven out by the National Socialists.

The next Generalmusikdirektor and opera director was Karl Böhm. He secures the historical continuity and international artistic reputation of the Semperoper.

In 1944, the Semperoper closes its doors. During World War II, the Semper Opera House was heavily damaged by Allied bombing, and it took many years to restore the building to its former glory. The reconstruction was finally completed in 1985, and the opera house reopened with a performance of Carla Maria von Weber’s opera Der Freischütz.

The Building

The exterior is an example of Neo-Renaissance architecture, with a grand façade featuring intricate decorations, sculptures, and reliefs. The building is constructed of sandstone and has a symmetrical design, with a central entrance flanked by two towers. The interior of the opera is impressive, with lavish decoration that includes frescoes, sculptures, and ornate details throughout. The main auditorium is designed in a horseshoe shape, with four tiers of seating and a capacity of over 1.800 seats. The most impressive feature of the Semperoper is the large chandelier from the main auditorium. It is made of crystal and bronze and weighs over a ton.

Today, the Semperoper is one of the most important cultural institutions in Germany, attracting some of the greatest opera singers and conductors from around the world.