Semperoper Dresden

Located as it is in Dresden, the Semperoper was naturally destroyed by Allied bombing in 1945. After long discussions, a decision was made to build a replica of the original house which reopened in 1985. The building is considered to be a prime example of "Dresden Baroque" architecture, and monuments on the portal depict great international artists, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, William Shakespeare, Sophocles, Molière and Euripides. None of the fires, bombings or floods have tarnished the stage’s reputation for excellence, however – it is a stage which has seen the premieres of major works by, amongst others, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. It is currently home to the Saxon State Opera, the Semperoper Ballett, and the Dresden Staatskapelle, one of the best orchestras in Germany.