The Semperoper account among the most beautiful operas of the world. Symbol of the town of Dresden, it is also the symbol of the local beer mark Radeberger.

The first construction

In 1838, the architect Gottfried Semper begins construction from the first theater of the royal court in a style Renaissance.

In 1849, to have taken part in the insurrection of May, Semper is constrained to leave the Saxony.

The second construction

The building burns in 1869 and its replacement begins in 1871. Gottfried Semper which is always interdict of stay however sees secretly entrusting the mission by certain people. It draws the plans and transmits them to his/her Manfred son.

The second theater is completed in 1878 and is inaugurated with the “Jubelouvertüre” of Weber and “Iphigenie auf Tauris” of Goethe. The new opera, always in the style Rebirth, exceeds the first physically operated all while adapting to the surrounding buildings, of which the Zwinger. The opera will thus give representations until the August 31st 1944.

The third construction

But the war will not save it. The February 13rd 1945, the opera comes very close to disappearance under the bombs. There remain only the external walls and some sculptures. A beginning of classification of the missing parts takes place as of 1952. The first stone of third Semperoper is posed in 1977.

The rebuilding will be done with the identical one. For only change, related to the evolution of the standards, the number of places will be tiny room to 1300 at the same time as the scene is widened. Third Semperoper is inaugurated the February 13rd 1985 with the part Der Freischütz of Weber.

The flood

However, the fate is still baited. In 2002, the opera suffers from the flood of the century. The Elba will go up until 8m top in the building. The stair-wells or the cellars will severely be damaged.

In 2004, the opera is saved once again.

Bonds

• Official site
• Semperoper and the town of Dresden
• Semperoper in panoramic image