Service
FAQ
Please dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable, while bearing in mind the overall festive atmosphere in the opera house. A performance at the Semperoper is possible at any time–even at short notice–if you are dressed appropriately and wear long pants. Particularly on special occasions such as gala events and premieres, evening dresses or a dinner jacket certainly won’t be out of place.
The cloakroom is free for all visitors to the Semperoper Dresden.
Tickets no longer required can be offered for resale on commission up to one working day before the stipulated event, under the condition that the Semperoper Dresden has no remaining tickets for this performance.
If a work other than that indicated at the time of purchase is to be performed, then tickets can be returned prior to the event. The Semperoper Dresden reserves the right to change the list of performers, and such changes do not entitle ticket-holders to return purchased tickets. Unused tickets will not be exchanged. Please note our General Terms and Conditions.
Tickets already purchased for performances cancelled by the Semperoper will be refunded. A ticket return form is available for this purpose.
Although we will do our best to process your refund as quickly as possible, due to the large number of ticket cancellations it may take us a while to successively deal with all requests. Please refrain from making inquiries, also to ensure that the refund is processed as quickly as possible. In this regard, we kindly ask for your patience.
With ERGO ticket insurance (former ERV) you can quickly and inexpensively insure your purchased ticket(s), including any fees, for your planned visit to the opera. The insurance is offered through a separate contract with ERGO. Coverage begins with your agreement to purchase the insurance offer, at the earliest however with the acquisition of the ticket and ends with expiry of the indicated event. Please note that tickets can only be insured within 3 working days of the date of ticket purchase.
Click here for ticket insurance (website of the ERGO ticket insurance, in German only)
If you have taken out a ticket insurance with ERGO ticket insurance (former ERV) and are unable to attend a performance at the Semperoper due to an insured event, you can apply for your reimbursement quickly and easily online:
Request reimbursement (website of the ERGO ticket insurance, in German only)
Tickets for the Saxon State Theatres entitle the holder to travel on the entire public transport network of Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe where you see the »VVO« logo. This offer enables guests of the Semperoper and the Staatsschauspiel (State Playhouse Dresden) to travel to and from booked events by VVO public transport without having to buy an additional ticket.
The so-called »KombiTicket« is valid for a period of four hours before the event to eight hours post-event on all S-Bahn trains, regional trains, trams, buses and Elbe ferries between Altenberg and Hoyerswerda, Riesa and Sebnitz. The offer applies to most events in the main venues of the Saxon State Theatres, in particular the Semperoper and Semper Zwei. Please note the following exceptions and special cases:
- The KombiTicket is not valid for free and low-price events.
- The KombiTicket is not valid for complimentary tickets of any kind, sponsor tickets, press tickets, etc.
- The KombiTicket is not valid for school groups, teachers and students, as such tickets are already very inexpensive or reduced in price.
All KombiTickets can be recognised by the VVO logo.
Children are not only permitted, they are expressly invited. Especially the Semperoper Junge Szene offers a diverse programme for both young and old. In addition to such educational attractions as visiting live rehearsals etc, there are also special events such as »Take 4« for schoolchildren. For further information please check our offers. Apart from the above events which are designed for kids of all ages, we recommend that young children under the age of six do not attend performances in the Semperoper for their own protection.
Please inform cloakroom staff or door attendants of the loss of personal belongings, or phone +49 351 49 11 0. We will do our utmost to assist you.
We kindly ask you to pass on any items you may find to a member of staff.
Dresden’s starred chef and owner of the »Bean&Beluga« restaurant, Stefan Hermann, has taken over the Semperoper’s gastronomic services from the 2010/11 season. Before the curtain rises and during the intervals you can savour some exquisite delicacies at the foyer bars.
Reservation info@gastronomie-semperoper.de, Phone +49 351 49 11 523
Yes – from the 2016/17 season most operas are presented with supertitles in German and English. Please check the web page of the particular opera to see if there are supertitles.
There are no supertitles for the performances of the Corona substitute programme from August to October.
Some introductions to the performed works are offered, although not for every event. You can find out in our Repertoire whether your performance is preceded by a short lecture. The introductions to performances in the Semperoper take place in the basement 45 minutes before each performance. The introductions to performances in Semper Zwei take place in the upper foyer of Semper Zwei 25 minutes before the scheduled performance.
There are no introductions to works during the performances of the Corona substitute programme from August to October.
An impromptu visit to the opera? No problem! Sometimes tickets are still available shortly before a performance. These can be purchased by phoning +49 351 4911 705, here on the website, also as a Print@Home/Smartphone-Ticket or from the evening box office. Simply check our online programme for availability. The evening box office in the Semperoper opens one hour before each performance. Due to corona-related hygiene rules, standing room is currently not available at the box office.
The auditorium of the Semperoper comprises around 1,300 seats, distributed over the stalls and four circles. The first row of seating in the stalls can be removed to increase the size of the orchestra pit for special performances.
The dimensions of the auditorium in detail – width: approx. 27m, height: approx. 19m, depth: approx. 26m.
The main stage has an area of 630m² (30m wide, 21m deep, 24m high); the backstage area is 342m² (18.5m wide, 18.5m deep, 9.5m high); the wings have a combined area of 671m². This gives a total stage area of 1,643m².
Since the 2016/17 season, our new Semper Zwei venue has also been inviting visitors on a journey of discovery into the world of music theatre. With a maximum of 160 seats (the exact number varies depending on the piece), the theatrical experience is much more intimate, not least because artists and audience members are not separated from one another by a deep and wide orchestra pit.
Newly designed thematic tours will immerse you in the exciting world of the Semperoper: you can choose from architecture, Dresden’s musical history, or anecdotes and scandals associated with the opera house. Whether as an activity day for kindergartens, an excursion for day-care centres or even a programme for school classes – the guided tours are suitable for all occasions and offer a playful and lively way for young visitors to discover the Semperoper.
As a special offer, a 30-minute short guided tour by our partner Semperoper erleben takes place before selected performances in the Semperoper (indicated in the schedule under INFO). During the short tour, you will stroll through the foyers and vestibules and can get in the mood for your opera visit in a festive atmosphere.
The short guided tour at the exclusive price of 10 euros per person begins 75 minutes before the performance starts (15 minutes before the opera house opens). The meeting point is the entrance to the Semperoper towards the river Elbe. Tickets for the guided tour are only valid together with a ticket for the subsequent performance. The tickets for the guided tour can be added to the purchase of the performance tickets.
Online bookings semperoper-erleben.de
Phone +49 351 320 736 0
Email info@semperoper-erleben.de
DVDs, CDs and other gift items are available from our visitor service (Schinkelwache) or from the opera shop. There you can purchase recordings of opera productions such as the DVD of »Hänsel und Gretel« from the Semperoper, or the DVD of »Der Rosenkavalier«. A special souvenir is the new limited-edition sparkling wine from Saxon’s State Vineyard at Castle Wackerbarth, called »Gräfin Cosel«; it comes with a classic CD of famous female singers from the Semperoper. Fans of ballet can purchase pointe shoes.
Supporting the Semperoper with a donation is possible in two ways: You can support the general artistic work of the Semperoper by bank transfer or make an online donation to a specific project of your choice. Please follow the link for further information:
Please note that photography and sound recording is not permitted during performances. Visitors are requested to leave coats and large bags in the cloakroom, and food and liquids may not be taken into the auditorium.
The Saxon State Theatres do not participate in dispute settlement proceedings before a consumer arbitration service.