Semper Opera House [Dresden, DE]
Königliches Hoftheater Dresden
Semperoper
Semperova opera
Ópera Semper
Theatre building in Dresden, Germany, opened in 1841
bouwwerk in Dresden
Hoftheater
Semper Opera House
Old Opera House, sketch plan, I. p. 4 ; New Opera House, sketch plan, I. p. 4 ; Descriptive text, I. pp. 19, 20; Block plan, I. p. 19; General view, I. p. 19; Detail of loggia, I. p. 20; Detail of box division, I. p. 20; View of grand staircase, I. p. 2,1 ; Front elevation, I. PL 32, 33 ; Plan area, I. PL 34; Plan 1st tier, I. PL 35 ; Plan 3rd tier, I. PL 36 ; Transverse section, I. PL 36 ; Plan 4th tier, I. PL 37 ; Longitudinal section, I. PL 37 ; Front elevation, central feature, I. PL 38 ; Auditorium, details, I. PL 39 ; Auditorium, ceiling, I. PL 40; Subsidy of, III. p. 4; Plan and section of orchestra, III. p. 64 ; Plan of ceiling supports, III. p. 74 ; Staircase plans at entrance and 1st tier level, III. p. 84; Lounge, III. p. 87 ; Skeleton plan of auditorium, III. PL opp. p. 62 ; Skeleton section of auditorium, III. PL opp. p. 62 ; References, III. pp. 66, 73, 74, 80, 86.
Built 1871-1878 as Altstädter Hoftheater - Königliches Opernhaus by Gottfried Semper and Manfred Semper. Opened 2 February 1878 with Goethe's Iphigenie auf Tauris. 1912-1914 alterations of interior decoration. 1919 renamed Sächsische Staatsoper. 1938 renovation of the auditorium. Destroyed by bombs in the night of 13/14 February 1945. 1945-1955 safety works, afterwards left as a ruin until 1977. 1977-1985 rebuilding to Semper's plans with slight alterations; addition of modern extension buildings. Re-opened 13 February 1985 with Weber's Der Freischütz. August 2002 foyers and basement damaged by flood. Original capacity: ca. 1800 persons, today: 1323 seats (+ 39 standing). Used for opera and ballet performances of the resident Sächsische Staatsoper company.
Opened April 18, 1841. Burnt at 12 noon, owing to careless handling of inflammable material in the well of the lustre. Nothing of any value saved. Several persons injured.