The Semperoper is one of the world's great opera houses, and Saxony's most important cultural institution. Built by Gottfried Semper in Italian High Renaissance style, the building that stands today is the third version on the same spot — its predecessors destroyed by fire and by war — yet each time rebuilt to the same grand ambitions.
The connection to music history is extraordinary. Nine operas by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss received their world premieres here, including Wagner's Rienzi, Der fliegende Holländer, and Tannhäuser, and Strauss's Salome, Elektra, and Der Rosenkavalier. The Staatskapelle Dresden, the resident orchestra, is one of the oldest in the world, tracing its history to 1548.
Attending a performance is the ideal way to experience the building, but daily guided tours (except on performance days) take you through the foyer, the auditorium, and backstage areas. The red-and-gold interior seats around 1,300, and the acoustics are considered among the finest in Europe. Book well ahead for both performances and tours, especially in the main season from September to June.
The Semperoper sits on the Theaterplatz, flanked by the Zwinger and overlooking the Elbe, making it part of one of the finest urban set pieces in Germany. The equestrian statue of King Johann on the square is a useful meeting point.