The city of Bayreuth and five German theaters will jointly launch “Silenced Voices,” a digital research and memorial platform commemorating persecuted opera ensemble members, on July 20, 2026. Per an official press release, the platform makes permanently accessible nearly 300 biographies of artists and stage professionals who were expelled from German opera houses, persecuted, and in many cases murdered by {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has created a fundraiser in order to help support Aaron Pegram‘s widow and children following the untimely death of the tenor. In a a statement, the company said, “On Sunday the 8th February 2026, our valued colleague and friend Aaron Pegram passed away suddenly and completely unexpectedly. With his death, a voice has been silenced — a {…}
(Photo credit: Klemens Renner) On Friday, Nov. 14, the Semperoper Dresden experienced a workplace accident. According to the Press Office of the Dresden Fire and Rescue Service in consultation with the Semperoper Dresden, “During the midday rehearsal for ‘Turandot’ on the main stage, a workplace accident occurred in which five members of the production team fell from a platform approximately {…}
(Photo credit: Klemens Renner) The upcoming concert at Semperoper Dresden will put the spotlight on works by Scandinavian composers. The “Semper Soirée Nordlichter” will celebrate the diverse musical voices of Scandinavia, taking listeners on an inspiring journey across Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. The program features lyrical songs from the 19th and 20th centuries by Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg, Hugo {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has found a new “Lucia di Lammermoor” for its revival. The company said that for the performances on April 20, 25, 29, and May 4 and 8, Ruth Iniesta will sing the title role, replacing Pretty Yende, who was forced to withdraw due to a family situation. Iniesta has sung the title role on numerous occasions at the {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced a conductor change for its upcoming production of “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The company revealed that Giulio Cilona will take over for Riccardo Minasi, leading a run that stars Christoph Pohl, Julia Kleiter, Anna El-Khashem, Michael Nagl, and Cecilia Mayer. Cilona, the winner of the 2024 Ernst-von-Schuch Conducting Prize, Kapellmeister at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and {…}
(Photo credit: Matthias Creutziger) Soprano and Saxon Chamber Singer Barbara Hoene died at the age of 80. She passed away during the night of Jan. 11 and 12. Hoene was born on Feb. 4, 1944 in Cottbus. She began her career in 1966 as a soloist at the Landestheater Dessau and was engaged in the soloist ensemble of the Saxon {…}
The Semperoper Dresden has announced its 2024-25 season. Premieres Arrigo Boito’s “Mefistofele” is conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Eva-Maria Höckmayr. The production will star Krzysztof Bączyk, Bekhzod Davronov, Marjukka Tepponen, and Martina Gedeck. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 24, 2024 Richard Strauss’s “Intermezzo” will be conducted by Patrick Hahn and directed by Axel Ranisch. The cast will include Maria {…}
(Photo: Semperoper/Ludwig Olah) The almost 800-year-old conflict on the Iberian Peninsular between the Spanish and the Moorish invaders gave rise to many stories of heroism, love and bloodshed. While some were based on fact, others were simply romantic embellishments or complete fabrications. One such tale of questionable authenticity concerns Rahel, the Jewish mistress of the King of Castile, Alfonso VIII. {…}
(Credit: Ludwig Olah) Medici.TV is set to present Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde” from the Semperoper Dresden. The opera will be streamed on Feb. 17, 2024, and will star tenor Klaus Florian Vogt and soprano Camilla Nylund. Audiences will also get to experience the work of Georg Zeppenfeld, Martin Gantner, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Sebastian Wartig, Attilio Glaser, and Lawson Anderson. Alexander Bülow directed the production, which {…}
Semperoper Dresden has announced that it will be expanding its accessibility options for its audiences by introducing opera performances with audio descriptions as well as haptic tours. The audio descriptions are written by non-sighted and sighted authors that will describe events as well as stage design and costumes. The services are free of charge but only valid with a ticket {…}