Semperoper

Book your tickets now for the opera and ballet performances at the Semperoper of Dresden, the 2025-2026 Season is online! 

What are the must-see shows at the Semperoper this season?

The Dresden Semperoper is one of the greatest opera in the world. Most of the Staatskapelle concerts , a prestigious orchestra, take place there.

"Rienzi", "The Flying Dutchman" and "Tannhäuser" were all created here after Richard Wagner's appointment as Hofkapellmeister in 1843. Ernst von Schuch, who was Generalmusikdirektor from 1889 to 1914, conducted more than 40 world premieres, including Richard Strauss's 'Salome', 'Elektra' and 'Der Rosenkavalier'. Five more of the composer's operas were premiered in Dresden until 1938. Under Schuch's successor, Fritz Busch, the Dresden repertoire expanded to include modernist works, such as the world premieres of pieces by Weill and Hindemith.

The majority of concerts by the Staatskapelle, one of the most prestigious orchestras, take place in the opera house. The Dresden Staatskapelle was founded in 1548. Its principal conductors and musical directors have been Karl Böhm, Kurt Sanderling, Herbert Blomstedt, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Bernard Haitink and Fabio Luisi. Christian Thielemann has been Principal Conductor of the Staatskapelle since 2012.