Semperoper

Dresden, Germany

The Semperoper is the opera house of the Saxon State Opera and the concert hall of the Saxon State Orchestra. It is also home to the Semperoper Ballett. The building is located near the Elbe River in the historic centre of Dresden.

The opera house was originally built by the architect Gottfried Semper in 1841. After a devastating fire in 1869, the opera house was rebuilt, partly again by Semper, and completed in 1878.

In 1945, during the last months of World War II, the building was largely destroyed again. Exactly 40 years later, on 13 February 1985, the opera's reconstruction was completed.

The opera house has a long history of premieres, including major works by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.

References:

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Address

Theaterplatz 1A, Dresden, Germany
See all sites in Dresden

Details

Founded: 1841/1878
Category:
Historical period: German Confederation (Germany)

More Information

www.semperoper.de
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Dresden Cathedral (0,2 km)
Frauenkirche (0,5 km)
Dresden Castle (0,2 km)
Zwinger Palace (0,2 km)
Albertinum (0,7 km)
Bundeswehr Military History Museum (3,2 km)
Dresden City Museum (0,7 km)
Albrechtsberg Palace (4,3 km)
Japanisches Palais (0,6 km)


Neurathen Rock Castle (25,9 km)
Königstein Fortress (27,1 km)
Meissen Cathedral (22,2 km)
Albrechtsburg Castle (22,2 km)
Pillnitz Castle (10,9 km)
Moritzburg Castle (13,1 km)
Freudenstein Castle (31,4 km)
Stolpen Castle (24,4 km)
Franciscan Monastery (21,9 km)

User Reviews

Abrar AbZ (2 months ago)
Great place, stunning interior, the music was so enjoyable. Highly recommended. ??
Alexandra Kalnytska (Gelvin) (9 months ago)
A wonderful tour about the opera, telling about it's heartbreaking history and faithful people who kept rebuilding it despite all the obstacles. And opera interior is absolutely astonishing! Truly worth visiting! (Unfortunately, didn't attend an actual performance)
Dave Schroeder (10 months ago)
One of the three great opera houses in the world. If you come to Dresden, do everything possible to see an actual opera here. For us it was a wonderful event, musically and artistically beautiful!
J C (10 months ago)
Guide tour in German: the tour guide lady spend 95% of time talking, stopped at 4 locations, no chances of taking pictures. Waisted 60 minutes and 13€. Go if u like to be lectured.
Samuel Kleymann (15 months ago)
A must see in the antique heart of Dresden. A beautiful concert hall which obviously looks stunning but also has amazing concerts and musicals. Just go there if you are in Dresden.
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Construction on the present building was begun in the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Intended to house the King Philip III of Spain on a visit never fulfilled to this part of his kingdom, instead it initially housed the Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, count of Lemos. By 1616, the facade had been completed, and by 1620, the interior was frescoed by Battistello Caracciolo, Giovanni Balducci, and Belisario Corenzio. The decoration of the Royal Chapel of Assumption was not completed until 1644 by Antonio Picchiatti.

In 1734, with the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples, the palace became the royal residence of the Bourbons. On the occasion of his marriage to Maria Amalia of Saxony in 1738, Francesco De Mura and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro helped remodel the interior. Further modernization took place under Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. In 1768, on the occasion of his marriage to Maria Carolina of Austria, under the direction of Ferdinando Fuga, the great hall was rebuilt and the court theater added. During the second half of the 18th century, a 'new wing' was added, which in 1927 became the Vittorio Emanuele III National Library. By the 18th century, the royal residence was moved to Reggia of Caserta, as that inland town was more defensible from naval assault, as well as more distant from the often-rebellious populace of Naples.

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In 1922, it was decided to transfer here the contents of the National Library. The transfer of library collections was made by 1925.

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