Semperoper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Semperoper

The Semperoper in 2013
Location	Dresden, Germany
Coordinates	51°03′16″N 13°44′07″E / 51.05444°N 13.73528°E / 51.05444; 13.73528
Type	Opera house, concert hall
Construction
Built	1841 (original) 1878 (first reconstruction) 1985 (second reconstruction)
Architect	Gottfried Semper

The Semperoper (say: ZEM-per-oh-per) is a famous opera house in Dresden, Germany. It is home to the Saxon State Opera and the Saxon State Orchestra. You can also watch the Semperoper Ballet perform here. The building is located right by the Elbe River in the old part of Dresden.

This beautiful building was first built by an architect named Gottfried Semper in 1841. It was damaged by a big fire in 1869. Then, it was rebuilt and finished in 1878. The Semperoper has hosted the first performances of many important operas. These include works by famous composers like Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.

Discovering the Semperoper's Past

Inside the first opera house in 1841

The first opera house, around 1850

The very first opera house on this spot was designed by Gottfried Semper. It opened on April 13, 1841. The first show was an opera by Carl Maria von Weber. People thought this building was one of the most beautiful opera houses in Europe. It mixed different styles, like early Renaissance and Baroque art. It also had Corinthian style pillars, which are like those from ancient Greek buildings. This mix of styles is called eclecticism.

The Semperoper in July 1945.

Semperoper with the Theatre Square, 2011

In 1869, a terrible fire destroyed the opera house. The people of Dresden wanted it rebuilt right away. They insisted that Gottfried Semper design the new one. Even though he was away from Dresden, his son, Manfred Semper, used his father's plans. The second opera house was finished in 1878. It was built in a style called Neo-Renaissance, which means "new Renaissance."

This building is a great example of Baroque Revival architecture. It stands proudly on Theatre Square in central Dresden. On top of the entrance, there is a statue of a panther pulling a chariot. Inside, you can see amazing artwork by artists like Johannes Schilling. There are also statues of famous artists and writers, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and William Shakespeare. Before World War II, many new operas by Richard Strauss were first performed here.

Inside the current opera house, 2013

Inside the current opera house, 2023

In 1945, during the last months of World War II, the building was mostly destroyed again. This happened during the bombing of Dresden in World War II. Only the outside walls were left standing. Exactly 40 years later, on February 13, 1985, the opera house was fully rebuilt. It looked almost exactly like it did before the war. However, it had new stage equipment and a modern service building behind it. The Semperoper reopened with the same opera that was playing just before it was destroyed in 1945. This was Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz.

In 2002, the Elbe River flooded. The building was badly damaged by water. But with a lot of help from people around the world, it reopened in December of that year.

Who Runs the Semperoper Today?

Today, the main orchestra for most operas is the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. The Semperoper has a special leader called the Intendant. This person is like the general manager of the opera company. The current Intendant is Peter Theiler. In 2024, Nora Schmid will become the new Intendantin, making her the second woman to hold this important job.

Famous Artists of the Semperoper

Many talented people have worked at the Semperoper. Here are some of the famous conductors and singers who have performed there.

Conductors Who Led the Orchestra

Singers Who Performed Here

New Operas First Performed at Semperoper

The Semperoper is famous for being the place where many new operas were first shown to the world. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

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  A wide view of the theatre's interior today.

See also

• Opernhaus am Taschenberg