Is it a quiet village deep in the country – or a meeting place of high society? In any case, the world of this opera is a world grey and dead, a world that has forgotten how to love. The people within it are drained of all life and passion. And among them is Nemorino, who loves the seemingly unattainable Adina with an unquestioning and self-denying passion for which he is cynically mocked by the locals. And for her part, world-wise Adina does not seem to fit in either. A well-grounded woman of experience, she rejects Nemorino as unworthy of her. more...
When the miller dies his eldest son is left the mill, the second the donkey while the youngest is given the cat. At first he is disappointed with his inheritance, but this is no ordinary cat – and when it starts to speak, that is only the beginning of a fantastic and amusing chain of events.
»Puss in Boots«, one of the most famous fairy-tales from the collection of the Brothers Grimm, was adapted by Russian composer César A. Cui to a children’s opera in 1913. Dresden audiences will hear a chamber music version of the work, performed by an orchestra which features school-age musicians. more...
The choreographer uses the last opportunity to make some corrections; a dancer has not managed a costume change fast enough and misses their entrance; the stage suddenly plunges into darkness. The final rehearsals offer a chance to iron out such problems. In fact, it is often said that these things must happen in order for the dress rehearsal and premiere to run smoothly. Visitors to the Semperoper have the rare chance to see our dancers and stage hands at their daily work, and thus get a taste of the sometimes tense, but exciting atmosphere during rehearsals. more...
Commissioned in celebration of the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia, Mozart’s opera, »La clemenza di Tito«, was premiered in Prague in 1791. In this opera, Mozart provides a surprising answer to the question as to how a ruler or a ruling class should behave; unexpectedly, the opera is more of a thriller than a celebratory hymn to power. Intrigue abounds until even the city of Rome goes up in flames. The motives of the characters, however, are grounded not in political gain; rather, their actions are governed by deep passion. more...
