On the one hand, our artists were forced to stay at home, where through training and daily practice sessions they tried to keep body, soul, voice and muscles fit. At the same time, our colleagues in the planning and booking offices as well as our stage crew and workshop staff had their hands full: every other day they had to implement the new and changing regulations in artistic and operational planning, reimburse our many ticketholders or utilise their freed up schedules as effectively as possible for maintenance and renovation work.

But now we are raring to go! Of course, we have drawn up hygiene concepts for our productions as well as for you, our visitors. Together, these allow us to once again present live performances in front of an audience while guaranteeing the highest possible level of protection against coronavirus infection. For you, this basically means that, for the time being, all performances will be limited to approx. 90 minutes without an interval, and the number of seats will be significantly reduced. All performances under the corona restrictions are labelled either »Semper Essenz« (for operas and ballets) or »Variation« (for concerts), underlining the fact that this is great art in its most concentrated form ... Please click here for more details about our regulations for visitors.

If you take a look at our programme for the next months, you will notice the major impact that the unexpected break has had on our rehearsal and performance schedule. Thus far we have been forced to postpone the new productions of »Madama Butterfly«, »Don Carlo«, »Guillaume Tell/William Tell«, the ballet »Four Last Songs«, the Semper Zwei production »Wie werde ich reich und glücklich?« as well as numerous concerts. Of course, we aim to reschedule all of these works in the near future, and are currently engaged in preparations for this.

In the »Semper Essenz« series, you can enjoy operas and ballets, sometimes in concert, sometimes with the Staatskapelle on stage, sometimes in semi-staged productions, but in every case spotlighting the core of the work and always performed to the highest musical standard. And in our »Variation« series you can continue to enjoy the brilliance of the Staatskapelle in concert. I cordially invite you to rediscover the Semperoper through these two new formats! 

Stay healthy … and stay loyal to us! I hope to see you again soon in the Semperoper.

Your

Peter Theiler
Artistic Director of Saxon State Opera