Editing Semperoper

{{short description|Opera house and concert hall in Dresden, Germany}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Semperoper
| image = [[File:Dresden - Semperoper - 2013.jpg|250px]]
| image_caption = The Semperoper in 2013|
| logo_image = Semperoper Logo.svg
| location = [[Dresden]], Germany
| coordinates = {{coord|51|03|16|N|13|44|07|E|region:DE-SN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Opera house]], [[concert hall]]
| broke_ground = 
| built = 1841 (original)<br/>1878 (first reconstruction)<br/>1985 (second reconstruction)
| opened = 
| owner = 
| architect = [[Gottfried Semper]]
| seating_capacity = 1,300
| publictransit = 
| website = {{official|semperoper.de|https://www.semperoper.de/en/}}
}}

The '''Semperoper''' ({{IPA|de|ˈzɛmpɐˌʔoːpɐ|-|de-Semperoper.ogg}}) is the [[opera house]] of the '''Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden''' (Saxon State Opera) and the [[concert hall]] of the [[Staatskapelle Dresden]] (Saxon State Orchestra). It is also home to the Semperoper Ballett. The building is located on the [[Theaterplatz (Dresden)|Theaterplatz]] near the [[Elbe]] River in the historic centre of [[Dresden]], Germany.

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

==History==
[[File:Dresden Hoftheater J C A Richter.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the first opera house in 1841]]
[[File:Erstes Opernhaus Sempers ca1850 1860.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The first opera house, around 1850]]

The first opera house at the location of today's Semperoper was built by the architect [[Gottfried Semper]]. It opened on 13 April 1841 with an opera<!-- Der Freischütz? --> by [[Carl Maria von Weber]]. The building style itself is debated among many, as it has features that appear in three styles: early [[Renaissance]] and [[Baroque]], with [[Corinthian style]] pillars typical of Greek [[Neoclassical architecture|classical revival]]. Perhaps the most suitable label for this style would be [[eclecticism]], where influences from many styles are used, a practice most common during this period.<ref name="Loeffler" >Fritz Löffler: ''Das alte Dresden – Geschichte seiner Bauten''. 16th ed. Leipzig: Seemann, 2006, {{ISBN|978-3-86502-000-0}} {{in lang|de}}.</ref> The opera building, Semper's first, was regarded as one of the most beautiful European opera houses.
[[File:Fotothek df pk 0000156 013 Aufnahmen von M. Friedrichs, M. Fischer, Hermann Matern, Arno Schellenberg und F.jpg|thumb|260px|The Semperoper in July [[1945]].]]
[[File:Dresden hausmannsturm theaterplatz.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Semperoper with the Theatre Square, 2011]]

Following a devastating fire in 1869, the citizens of Dresden immediately set about rebuilding their opera house. They demanded that Gottfried Semper do the reconstruction, even though he was then in exile because of his involvement in the [[May Uprising in Dresden|May 1849 uprising in Dresden]]. The architect had his son, Manfred Semper, build the second opera house using his plans. Completed in 1878, it was built in [[Neo-Renaissance]] style. During construction, performances were held at the ''Gewerbehaussaal'', which opened in 1870.<ref name="Loeffler" />

The building is considered a prime example of [[Baroque Revival architecture]]. It is situated on the Theatre Square in central Dresden on the bank of the Elbe River. On top of the portal there is a Panther [[quadriga]] with a statue of [[Dionysos]]. The interior was created by architects of the time, such as [[Johannes Schilling]]. Monuments on the portal depict artists, such as [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]], [[Friedrich Schiller]], [[William Shakespeare]], [[Sophocles]], [[Molière]] and [[Euripides]]. The building also features work by [[Ernst Rietschel]] and [[Ernst Julius Hähnel]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Dresden Semperoper | date=7 October 2008| url=http://mostlyopera.blogspot.com/2008/10/dresden-semperoper.html| publisher=Mostly Opera | access-date=9 August 2009}}</ref> In the pre-war years, the Semperoper premiered many of the works of [[Richard Strauss]].

[[File:011 Dresden - Semperoper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Interior of the current opera house, 2013]]
[[File:SemperoperFotoThalerTamas.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Interior of the current opera house, 2023]]

In 1945, during the last months of World War II, the building was largely destroyed again, this time by the [[bombing of Dresden in World War II|bombing of Dresden]] and subsequent [[firestorm]], leaving only the exterior shell standing. Exactly 40 years later, on 13 February 1985, the opera's reconstruction was completed. It was rebuilt almost identically to its appearance before the war, but with the benefit of new stage machinery and an accompanying modern rear service building.<ref>{{cite web | title=Dresden Sights and Views – Semper Opera House – | url=http://www.sights-and-culture.com/Germany/dresden-semper-opera.html| publisher=sights-and-culture.com | access-date=9 August 2009}}</ref> The Semperoper reopened with the opera that was performed just before the building's destruction in 1945, Carl Maria von Weber's ''[[Der Freischütz]]''. When the [[2002 European floods|Elbe flooded in 2002]], the building suffered heavy water damage. With substantial help from around the world, it reopened in December of that year.

==Present-day administration and operations==
Today, the orchestra for most operas is the [[Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden]]. The [[Generalmusikdirektor]] (GMD) of the Semperoper is normally a different conductor from that of the Staatskapelle when it presents concerts. Exceptions have been [[Karl Böhm]], [[Hans Vonk (conductor)|Hans Vonk]], and [[Fabio Luisi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/arts/music/05fabio.html|title=Saxon State Opera's Music Director Quits|work=The New York Times|author=Daniel J. Wakin|date=4 February 2010|access-date=6 February 2010}}</ref> who have held both positions. Whilst the Semperoper does not have a GMD as of 2015, the chief conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden was [[Christian Thielemann]], as of the 2012/13 season.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.staatskapelle-dresden.de/staatskapelle/christian-thielemann|title=Christian Thielemann Chefdirigent ab 2012|publisher=[[Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden]]|date=9 October 2009|access-date=4 December 2010}}</ref> The current ''Intendant'' (General Manager) of the company is Wolfgang Rothe.

Since the 2018–2019 season, the ''Intendant'' of the Semperoper is Peter Theiler.  In May 2021, his initial contract as ''Intendant'' was extended through the 2023–2024 season, at which time Theiler is scheduled to conclude his tenure in the post.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.mdr.de/kultur/musik/saechsische-staatskapelle-christian-thielemann-vertrag-ende-100.html | title=Sächsische Staatskapelle: Vertrag mit Christian Thielemann wird nicht verlängert | work=MDR Kultur | date=2021-05-11 | access-date=2021-05-12}}</ref>  In June 2021, the Semperoper announced the appointment of Nora Schmid as the incoming ''Intendantin'' of the company (the second woman to hold the post, after Ulrike Hessler), effective with the 2024–2025 season.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.mdr.de/kultur/themen/semperoper-dresden-neue-intendantin-nora-schmid-100.html | title=Semperoper Dresden: Nora Schmid wird Intendantin | work=MDR Kultur | date=2021-06-09 | access-date=2021-06-14}}</ref>

==Associated artists==
===Conductors===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em|rules=yes}}
* [[Carl Gottlieb Reißiger]]
* [[Richard Wagner]]
* [[Ernst von Schuch]] (1889–1914)
* [[Fritz Reiner]] (1914–1921)
* [[Fritz Busch]] (1922–1933)
* [[Karl Böhm]] (1934–1942)
* [[Karl Elmendorff]] (1943–1944)
* [[Joseph Keilberth]] (1945–1951)
* [[Rudolf Kempe]] (1949–1952)
* [[Otmar Suitner]] (1960–1964)
* [[Kurt Sanderling]] (1964–1967)
* [[Herbert Blomstedt]] (1975–1985)
* [[Hans Vonk (conductor)|Hans Vonk]] (1985–1990)
* [[Giuseppe Sinopoli]] (1992–2001)
* [[Semyon Bychkov (conductor)|Semyon Bychkov]] (2001–2002)
* [[Bernard Haitink]] (2002–2004)
* [[Fabio Luisi]] (2007–2010)
* [[Christian Thielemann]] (2012–2024)
{{Div col end}}

===Singers===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em|rules=yes}}
*[[Bernd Aldenhoff]]
*[[Helena Forti]]
*[[Elisabeth Höngen]]
*[[Friedrich Plaschke]]
*[[Elisabeth Rethberg]]
*[[Karl Scheidemantel]]
*[[Ernestine Schumann-Heink]]
*[[Erna Sack]]
*[[Richard Tauber]]
*[[Tino Pattiera]]
*[[Annie Krull]]
*[[Riza Eibenschütz]]
*[[Irma Tervani]]
*[[Meta Seinemeyer]]
*[[Margarethe Siems]]
*[[Therese Malten]]
*[[Edda Moser]]
*[[Minnie Nast]]
*[[Eva von der Osten]]
*[[Karl Perron]]
*[[Hermann Wedekind]]
*[[Marie Wittich]]
{{Div col end}}

==Operas premiered==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em|rules=yes}}
*1842: [[Richard Wagner]] – ''[[Rienzi]]'', 20 October
*1843: Richard Wagner – ''[[The Flying Dutchman (opera)|The Flying ''Dutchman]]'', 2 January
*1845: Richard Wagner – ''[[Tannhäuser (opera)|Tannhäuser]]'', 19 October
*1895: [[Eugen d'Albert]]: ''Ghismonda'', 28 November
*1901: [[Richard Strauss]] – ''[[Feuersnot]]'', 22 November
*1905: Richard Strauss – ''[[Salome (opera)|Salome]]'', 9 December
*1909: Richard Strauss – ''[[Elektra (opera)|Elektra]]'', 25 January
*1911: Richard Strauss – ''[[Der Rosenkavalier]]'', 26 January
*1913: [[Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari]] – ''[[L'amore medico]]'', 4 December
*1916: Eugen d'Albert – ''[[Die toten Augen]]'', 5 March
*1917: [[Hans Pfitzner]] – ''[[Das Christ-Elflein]]'' (2nd version), 11 December
*1924: Richard Strauss – ''[[Intermezzo (opera)|Intermezzo]]'', 4 November
*1925: [[Ferruccio Busoni]] – ''[[Doktor Faust]]'', 21 May
*1926: [[Kurt Weill]] – ''[[Der Protagonist]]'', 27 March
*1926: [[Paul Hindemith]] – ''[[Cardillac]]'', 9 November
*1927: [[Emil von Reznicek]] – ''Spiel oder Ernst''
*1927: [[Othmar Schoeck]] – ''[[Penthesilea (opera)|Penthesilea]]'', 8 January
*1928: Richard Strauss – ''[[Die ägyptische Helena]]'', 6 June
*1930: Othmar Schoeck – ''Vom Fischer and syner Fru'', 3 October
*1932: Eugen d'Albert – ''Mr Wu''
*1933: Richard Strauss – ''[[Arabella]]'', 1 July
*1935: Richard Strauss – ''[[Die schweigsame Frau]]'', 24 June
*1935: [[Rudolf Wagner-Régeny]] – ''Der Günstling'', 20 February
*1937: Othmar Schoeck – ''Massimilla Doni'', 2 March
*1938: Richard Strauss – ''[[Daphne (opera)|Daphne]]'', 15 October
*1940: [[Heinrich Sutermeister]] – ''Romeo und Julia'', 13 April
*1942: Heinrich Sutermeister – ''Die Zauberinsel'', 31 October
*1944: [[Gottfried von Einem]] – ''Prinzessin Turandot'', 5 February
*1944: [[Joseph Haas]] – ''Die Hochzeit des Jobs'', 2 July
*1985: [[Siegfried Matthus]] – ''Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke'', 16 February
*1989: Eckehard Meyer – ''Der goldene Topf'', 1989
*1998: [[Matthias Pintscher]] – ''Thomas Chatterton'', 25 May
*2001: [[Peter Ruzicka]] – ''Celan'', 25 March
*2008: [[Manfred Trojahn]] – ''La grande magia'', 10 May
*2010: [[Hans Werner Henze]] – ''Gisela'' (Dresden version), 20 November
*2011: [[Miroslav Srnka]] – ''Jakub Flügelbunt '', 15 December
*2012: Johannes Wulff-Woesten – ''Die Konferenz der Tiere'', 8 July
*2013: Johannes Wulff-Woesten – ''Prinz Bussel'', 27 April
{{Div col end}}

{{wide image|Opernsaal der Semperoper in Dresden.jpg|900|alt=|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the theatre's interior today (rendered image)}}

==See also==
*[[Opernhaus am Taschenberg]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Semperoper}}
*{{official|https://www.semperoper.de/en/}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Semperoper| ]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Dresden]]
[[Category:Concert halls in Germany]]
[[Category:Opera houses in Germany]]
[[Category:Performing arts venues in Germany]]
[[Category:Music venues completed in 1841]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1841]]
[[Category:Music venues completed in 1878]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in Dresden]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1878]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Dresden]]
[[Category:Baroque Revival architecture in Germany]]
[[Category:Staatskapelle Dresden]]