The Semperoper Dresden has announced that on January 1, 2022, director and administrator Johannes Matz passed away at the age of 92. He is remembered for his years of service with the company.

Born in Magdeburg in 1929, Matz studied at the drama school in his hometown before being hired as an actor and assistant director at the Naumberg State Theater.

From 1965 to 1980, he directed at the State Theater in Dresden, taught at the Hochschuke fur Musik in Dresden during the 80s, and directed the Dresden State Opera from 1990 to 1991.

“With Johannes ‘Hanns’ Matz, the Saxon State Opera loses a valued colleague who will always be remembered by the Semperoper as a close friend and valuable advisor,” says Semperoper director Peter Theiler. “Our sympathy goes to his family and his next of kin.”