What do a singing teapot, the longing for love, hard-boiled eggs, different ways of dealing with guilt and forgiveness, the King of Eldorado, three oranges, the hunger for power and a legendary dancer have in common? Essentially nothing. But the stage offers sufficient space for a huge range of characters, feelings, themes, perspectives and moods, for all that is joyful and tragic, as well as tackling the big – and small – questions of life.
I warmly invite you to join us at the Semperoper Dresden on an artistic exploration through time and space. Perhaps we will help you see the world with different ears? Perhaps you will be overwhelmed by the power of these sounds, images and stories? Musically, the programme for the 2024/25 season runs from the Baroque era to contemporary works, encompassing a huge diversity of subject matter from enchanting fairy tales to science fiction operas. The stories you will experience here have one thing in common: they tell us something about our world today, about the world of yesterday, and perhaps, even the world of tomorrow.
In my first season, there’s a huge amount to discover and celebrate, not least the 40th birthday of the newly rebuilt Semperoper! We intend to explore the exciting history of this building, one of the world’s most beautiful opera houses and a true cultural landmark, with a range of events. For example, we are celebrating a piece of Dresden’s musical history by performing Richard Strauss’s Intermezzo precisely 100 years after its world premiere here. And it is already 200 years since the first professional dance troupe – the forerunner of today’s Semperoper Ballett – was permanently engaged at Dresden’s royal theatre. The company’s new Artistic Director, Kinsun Chan, has devised a richly varied programme for this occasion.
There’s another special turning point that I’m very much looking forward to when Daniele Gatti takes up the reins for his first season as Principal Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden. A warm welcome to our new maestro!
The Semperoper is a place rich in history and personal stories. The task of maintaining and enlivening this great tradition is a huge inspiration for me. On the cover of this season’s magazine, you will see an allegory of human imagination. The original image is at the centre of the Semperoper’s magnificent decorative curtain. Let your imagination run wild as you read about our upcoming highlights. I’m sure you’ll find something to catch your interest.
With my warmest regards.
We’re looking forward to greeting you very soon!
Your Nora Schmid
Artistic Director of the Saxon State Opera Dresden