The Semperoper takes stock andpresents its programme for 2020/21

– Following a highly successful year, the Semperoper Dresden starts the new season with an ambitious and

highly topical programme featuring stellar guests

– Return of »Der Ring des Nibelungen« under the baton of Christian Thielemann

– Happy birthday! The Junge Szene turns 10

– »Dancing into the future«: Semperoper Ballett celebrates its 15th anniversary under Director Aaron S. Watkin

– Presentation of premieres with visual motifs by Cornelius Völker

Dresden, 3 March 2020. Around 292,000 guests visited the Semperoper Dresden in the calendar year 2019. This

translates into almost 92% of seats sold in all artistic categories. With a solid cost recovery rate of over 38% in 2018,

the Semperoper Dresden is feeling confident as it enters the third season under Managing Director Peter Theiler.

These excellent results consolidate the leading position of the Saxon State Opera in the list of the world’s top cultural

institutions. At the same time, they confirm the huge interest of international audiences in its wide-ranging program-

me as well as that of the Staatskapelle Dresden, both of which act as impressive cultural ambassadors at a global

level, highlighting Saxony’s great musical and artistic heritage.

In the 2020/21 season, all Semperoper employees, whether in front of, on or behind the stage, as well as audiences

can look forward to a total of 281 performances and eleven premieres (five opera premieres in the Semperoper, two

in Semper Zwei as well as two ballet and two Junge Szene premieres) and 32 repertoire works in all genres. The

concerts of the Staatskapelle Dresden will be presented in a separate programme. Ticket sales for the 2020/21 season

begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 March 2020. This does not include bookings for the »Ring« cycles, for which spe-

cial conditions apply. Ticket reservations for all other events can be made by phone, by post or in person at the box

office in the Schinkelwache. Up to 15 seats can be booked using the convenient online reservation system. Tickets

can then be printed using the Print@Home software or downloaded to your smartphone.

The eleven premieres scheduled for the upcoming seasons, which include two German and three Dresden premieres,

in opera, ballet and the Junge Szene programme are dedicated in different ways to how we can find orientation in a

world undergoing radical upheaval, in which seemingly fixed norms and ideals are subject to reinterpretation. In a

universe that seems increasingly threatening, the insecure individual is unexpectedly confronted with the question

of personal responsibility, or rather with a process of individual decision-making that, under the impact of univer-

sally traumatic historical events on the present, cannot be escaped. The new productions of Puccini’s »Turandot«,

Monteverdi’s »L’Orfeo«, Mozart’s »The Magic Flute«, Zimmermann’s »Weiße Rose« and the new ballet production

after Grieg’s »Peer Gynt« choreographed by Johan Inger are great examples of this theme of finding’s one position

in the transition from passive endurance to active action.

OPERA

The series of opera premieres for 2020/21 is launched by Gioachino Rossini’s politically timeless and highly topi-

cal ode to freedom »Guillaume Tell/William Tell« in a new staging by Georg Schmiedleitner. With its impressive

choral scenes and spectacular overture, this grand opéra will be conducted by the Italian Giampaolo Bisanti. The

Semperoper’s Principal Guest Conductor, Omer Meir Wellber, who has already delighted audiences in past seasons

with his interpretations of the Mozart-da Ponte operas, will conduct a peerless cast for the premiere of a new Dres-

den »Magic Flute«, staged by Josef E. Köpplinger. The new Dresden production of the original version of Claudio

Monteverdi’s »L’Orfeo« gives audiences the chance to become reacquainted with Rolando Villazón, who sings the

title role. Director and puppeteer Nikolaus Habjan, a shooting star of the Austrian theatre scene, brings the Orpheus

myth to the stage in a spectacular mix of singing actors and life-size puppets. Under the direction of Baroque music

specialist, conductor and lutenist, Wolfgang Katschner, guest musicians will perform period instruments from the

age of Monteverdi to complement the players of the Staatskapelle Dresden. Richard Strauss’s musical conversation

piece »Capriccio«, staged by Jens-Daniel Herzog, on the other hand, explores the fundamental question of which

takes primacy: music or words? »Prima la musica, poi la parole?« Krassimira Stoyanova returns to the Semperoper as

the Countess for the premiere of this work in May 2021, for which Christian Thielemann, the Staatskapelle’s Principal

Conductor, will ascend the rostrum. For the new Dresden production of »Turandot«, the French director Marie-Eve

Signeyrole returns to the fairy-tale drama of the same name by Carlo Gozzi, which was musically transposed into

the operatic sphere by Giacomo Puccini. Since making her opera debut in Montpellier in 2012, the film director and

author has quickly become one of the most sought-after interpreters of contemporary music theatre. In 2019 she

was nominated for Germany’s most prestigious theatre prize, »Der deutsche Theaterpreis – DER FAUST«, for her

interpretation of »La damnation de Faust« in Hanover. Under the baton of Croatian conductor Ivan Repušić, this final

premiere of the upcoming season will see a brilliant cast perform Puccini’s multi-layered masterpiece, whose rich

score is infused with Chinese folk melodies.

SEMPER ZWEI

Visitors to Semper Zwei can also look forward to a varied programme featuring no fewer than four Dresden premie-

res. These works have a common theme, namely the influence of the past on the current morals of our human cons-

tellations. Man’s confrontation with himself in a social labyrinth formed by historical events runs as a thread through

the programme: A constant effort is made to uncover links with the present day, in particular with the political situ-

ation in Germany – and indeed Saxony – in order to warn against recent trends through the means of music theatre.

In Semper Zwei, Stefan Hunstein will stage Aribert Reimann’s opera »Die Gespenstersonate«, which appears on the

programme from April 2021. Reimann, familiar to Dresden audiences as the current Composer-in-Residence to the

Staatskapelle, has transformed August Strindberg’s chamber play »The Ghost Sonata«, with its clever dissection of

a society, into a brilliant work of modern music theatre. In the lively staging by Manfred Weiß, Artistic Director of

Semper Zwei, the »Blues Brothers« Jake and Ellwood undertake a divine mission to Dresden. While John Landis’s

original cult movie from 1980 immortalised many of the featured songs, this Dresden production can be understood

as an homage to the lively blues scene of the GDR.

JUNGE SZENE/EDUCATION

For ten years, the Junge Szene programme in Semper Zwei has provided space for experimentation in young music

theatre, exploring unconventional forms of expression, as well as for numerous musical series, scientific colloquia

and dance projects. Casting an eye back over the past years, the premiere of Udo Zimmermann’s »Weiße Rose« can

be seen to closely follow the philosophy of Semper Zwei. The Dresden composer created this haunting work, which

premiered in 1986, by drawing on an earlier opera, »Die Weiße Rose«, completed twenty years before. It examines

the last hours of sibling anti-Nazi agitators Hans and Sophie Scholl. Director and stage designer Stephan Grögler

will make his debut at the Semperoper with the production of this work, which is the most frequently performed

chamber opera in Germany. Martin Smolka’s children’s opera »Das schlaue Gretchen« is also about an individual‘s

decision to buck authority, albeit in a far more vibrant and cheerful way. In Andrea Kramer’s production for Semper

Zwei, which is a Dresden premiere, this story of girl power will be narrated by actor Alexander Ritter. Audiences of

the Junge Szene can also enjoy the return of another of Andrea Kramer’s youthful productions, namely the fairy-tale

opera »Schneewitte« by Sophie Kassies and Jens Joneleit, which also features a strong girl as the Mayn character.

»DER RING DER NIBELUNGEN« UNDER THE BATON OF CHRISTIAN THIELEMANN

The absolute highlight of the upcoming season is certain to be the eagerly awaited return of Richard Wagner’s »Der

Ring des Nibelungen« in the legendary Dresden production by Willy Decker. Two complete »Ring« cycles can be

experienced in the Semperoper at the end of January and the beginning of February 2021, both under the baton of

the Staatskapelle’s Principal Conductor, Christian Thielemann. The star-studded international cast includes Jennifer

Holloway, Petra Lang, Christa Mayer, Albert Dohmen, Markus Eiche, Stephen Gould, Michel Volle and Georg Zep-

penfeld. The two cycles will be accompanied by a lecture series run in cooperation with Dresden’s »Carl Maria von

Weber« College of Music and the Saxon Academy of Arts.

RETURNING PRODUCTIONS

Returning productions in the 2020/21 season deserving special mention are »Don Giovanni«, the second Mozart ope-

ra of the season to be conducted by Omer Meir Wellber, as well as David Bösch’s staging of Verdi’s »Nabucco«, for

which, as in 2019, the Semperoper stage will be graced by Andrzej Dobber in the title role and Saioa Hernández as

Abigaille. In Semper Zwei, the aim of establishing an ambitious and socially-relevant programme that examines our

current conditions using a contemporary musical and visual vocabulary is confirmed by the return of two extremely

successful productions: Philip Venable’s »4.48 Psychosis« and Peter Eötvös’s »Der goldene Drache«.

BALLET

Under the theme »Dancing into the future«, the 2020/21 season marks the 15th anniversary of the Semperoper

Ballett under the direction of Aaron S. Watkin. To date 69 world premieres, a total of 1,188 performances as well

as more than 30 tours in 15 countries clearly illustrate this successful partnership. Aaron S. Watkin: »I have been

fortunate to have had the possibility to not only implement my artistic vison, but also to nurture it long–term. We

the Semperoper Ballett have defined our unique identity both nationally and internationally as an ambassador to our

house. With the extension of my contract until 2023 by our Intendant Peter Theiler, we have exiting planes for the

future artistic development of our company over the years to come!«

From next season, British choreographer David Dawson will become »Associate Choreographer« to the Semper-

oper Ballett. This title represents the mutual collaboration and commitment between the choreographer and the

ensemble over the next seasons. New additions to the company include internationally renowned French Ballerina

Sofiane Sylve and Brazilian ballet star Marcelo Gomes, who will join the team as both Ballet Masters and Principal

Dancers, as well Carlo Di Lanno, who will joining the rank of the principal men.

The first of two premieres is Johan Inger’s epic narrative work »Peer Gynt«, in which the choreographer parallels his

own career with Peer Gynt’s journey through life. Created in 2017 for the Basel Ballet, the Semperoper Ballett is the

first company to take on this work which will premiere in November, 2020. George Balanchine’s »Serenade«, Crystal

Pite’s »Plot Point« and William Forsythe’s »Playlist (EP)« make up the second premier program under the title »Play-

list«, which both will premiere as German premieres in June, 2021. From the classical full-lengths the company will

perform »La Bayadère«, »The Nutcracker« & »Swan Lake« as well as the mixed bill »Four last Songs« and the award

winning full-length creation »COW« by Alexander Ekman. Maria Kochetkova and Dmitry Semionov will be returning

to guest with the Semperoper Ballett. Kochetkova will dance Odette/Odile in »Swan Lake« and Semionov will dance

both Solor in »La Bayadère« and Prince Siegfried in »Swan Lake«. The Semperoper Ballett will close its season with

a tour to Tapei’s National Theatre with a mixed program, including Balanchine’s »Serenade«, Forsythe’s »Playlist

(EM)« and David Dawson’s »The Four Seasons«.

PREMIERE PRESENTATION – CORNELIUS VÖLKER

Following on from Andreas Mühe and Gerhard Richter, the Semperoper Dresden is delighted to have gained the

internationally acclaimed painter Cornelius Völker as a partner in presenting its premieres for the 2020/21 season.

Based in both Düsseldorf and New York, the freelance artist is one of the great representatives of contemporary Ger-

man painting. Alongside his numerous solo and group shows in Germany and abroad, many of Völker’s works can

be found in prestigious collections and museums.

A video recording of the Annual Press Conference 2020 as well as press materials are archived at semperoper.de/presse, where you can also

download press photos of our ensemble, our new productions (available from the time of the premiere) and returning productions.

»Der Ring des Nibelungen« in the 2020/21 season

Following the current spectacular new production of »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg«, the upcoming season sees

the Semperoper once again paying tribute to its local hero Richard Wagner with the return of the Dresden production

of »Der Ring des Nibelungen«. Willy Decker’s timeless interpretation of this work was last performed in Dresden

in the 2017/18 season, also under the baton of Christian Thielemann, the Staatskapelle’s Principal Conductor. The

complete »Ring« cycle will be performed twice from late January to mid-February.

The cast of performers will include ensemble members Christa Mayer, who was awarded the prestigious title »Kam-

mersängerin« of the State of Saxony in February 2020, and Michal Doron, who is already beginning her second year

as a permanent company member after transitioning from the Semperoper’s Young Ensemble programme; she will

make her role debut as Erda in Dresden. Joining them on stage are a star-studded array of artists including Petra

Lang, Jennifer Holloway, Stephen Gould, Michael Volle, Falk Struckmann and Georg Zeppenfeld.

The Cologne stage director Willy Decker has received many awards for his internationally acclaimed productions,

including the title »Chevaliers des Arts et des Lettres« and the Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

One of Europe’s most renowned opera directors, he has regularly staged productions for the Semperoper since 1991,

including groundbreaking interpretations of »Der Freischütz«, »Don Giovanni« as well as the Dresden premieres of

»Die Soldaten« and »Lear«. In these endeavours he worked closely with the stage and costume designer Wolfgang

Gussmann and the costume designer Frauke Schernau. From 2001 to 2003, his work in Dresden culminated in a

landmark production of the »Ring«, which now returns to the Semperoper programme in January and February of

2021.

Tickets are only available for a complete »Ring« cycle. Booking requests for a maximum of two »Ring« tickets will be

accepted in writing (by email, fax, letter or order form) from 20 to 24 April 2020. From 1 September 2020, remaining

tickets for individual performances will be offered for sale. For more details on how to reserve a ticket, please check

out semperoper.de.

Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen

Conducted by Christian Thielemann

Staged by Willy Decker

29 January & 7 February 2021

Das RheingoldPreliminary evening to the Bühnenfestspiel »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

30 January & 8 February 2021

Die WalküreFirst day of the Bühnenfestspiel »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

1 February & 10 February 2021

SiegfriedSecond day of the Bühnenfestspiel »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

3 February & 12 February 2021

GötterdämmerungThird day of the Bühnenfestspiel »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

The productions were made possible by the kind support of Daimler AG

An initiative of the Semperoper Foundation

On the occasion of the two »Ring« cycles, the Semperoper Dresden is organising a series of »Ring« lectures in co-

operation with Dresden’s »Carl Maria von Weber« College of Music and the Saxon Academy of the Arts. The dates of

the lectures are scheduled between the performances to enable as many interested opera fans as possible to enjoy

these accompanying events. After their official talks, the invited experts will enter into discussion with the audience.

31 January 2021

Dresden »Ring« Lecture I »Performance Practice«

Dresden College of Music

2 February 2021

Dresden »Ring« Lecture II »Wagner’s Enemies«

Dresden College of Music

6 February 2021

Dresden »Ring« Lecture III »The Ring and Art«

Semper Zwei

9 February 2021

Dresden »Ring« Lecture IV »Gender Relations«

Semper Zwei

11 February 2021

Dresden »Ring« Lecture V »The Ring – Nature – Capitalism«

Semper Zwei

Extra

28 January & 5 February 2021

»From Heroes and Battle Maidens« – Aktenzeichen to »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

Historisches Archiv der Sächsischen Staatstheater

Season 2020/21 premieres

Opera

27 September 2020

Gioachino Rossini Guillaume Tell/William TellConductor Giampaolo Bisanti · Director Georg Schmiedleitner

1 November 2020

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Magic FluteConductor Omer Meir Wellber · Director Josef E. KöpplingerWith friendly support of Stiftung Semperoper – Förderstiftung

26 March 2021

Claudio Monteverdi L’OrfeoConductor Wolfgang Katschner · Director Nikolaus Habjan

8 May 2021

Richard Strauss Capriccio Conductor Christian Thielemann · Director Jens-Daniel Herzog With friendly support of Stiftung Semperoper – Förderstiftung

3 July 2021

Giacomo Puccini TurandotConductor Ivan Repušić · Director Marie-Eve Signeyrole

Ballet

27 November 2020

Johan Inger Peer Gynt (Dresden premiere)Conductor Thomas Herzog · Choreographer Johan IngerWith friendly support of Stiftung Semperoper – Förderstiftung

6 June 2021

George Balanchine/William Forsythe/Crystal Pite PlaylistConductor Mikhail Agrest

Serenade (Dresden premiere)

Choreographer George Balanchine

Playlist (EP) (German premiere)Choreographer William Forsythe

Plot Point (Dresden premiere)Choreographer Crystal Pite

In Semper Zwei

22 January 2021

Blues Brothers

Dresden version by Manfred Weiß

Arranged by Tim Allhoff and Max Renne

Conductor Max Renne · Director Manfred Weiß

17 April 2021

Aribert Reimann Die Gespenstersonate (Dresden premiere)

Conductor Petr Popelka · Director Stefan Hunstein

Premiere on behalf of TONLAGEN – Dresden Days of Contemporary Music

Junge Szene

9 October 2020

Udo Zimmermann Weiße Rose

Conductor Johannes Wulff-Woesten · Director Stephan Grögler

11 June 2021

Martin Smolka Das schlaue Gretchen (Dresden premiere)

Conductor Thomas Leo Cadenbach · Director Andrea Kramer

A choice of artists in season 2020/21

Conductors

Christian Thielemann (Principal Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden): »Capriccio«, »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

Omer Meir Wellber (Principal Guest Conductor of the Semperoper Dresden): »The Magic Flute«, »Tosca«, »L’elisir d’amore/The Elixier of Love«, »Don Giovanni«, »Eugen Onegin«

Ensemble singers

Lawson Anderson: Ping in »Turandot«, Leporello in »Don Giovanni«, Ottokar in »Der Freischütz«

Hrachuhí Bassénz: Debut as Cio-Cio-San in »Madama Butterfly«. Lui in »Turandot«, Donna Anna in »Don Giovanni«, Agathe in »Der Freischütz«, Micaëla in »Carmen«

Joseph Dennis: Pong in »Turandot«, Lensky in »Eugen Onegin«, Baron Kronthal in »Der Wildschütz/The Poacher«

Michal Doron: Debuts as Erda in »Das Rheingold«, Dark Lady in »Die Gespenstersonate«, Filipjevna in »Eugen Onegin«

Markus Marquardt: Debut as Dulcamara in »L’elisir d’amore/The Elixir of Love«. Speaker in »The Magic Flute«, title part in »Rigoletto«

Christa Mayer (»Kammersängerin des Freistaates Sachsen«): Debut as Clairon in »Capriccio«. Fricka in »Das Rhein-gold« and »Die Walküre«, Erda in »Götterdämmerung«

Stepanka Pucalkova: Second Lady in »The Magic Flute«, Messenger in »L’Orfeo«, Prinz Orlovsky in »Die Fleder-maus«, Rosina in »Il barbiere di Siviglia/The Barber of Seville«, Olga in »Eugen Onegin«, Hänsel in »Hänsel und Gretel«

Alexandros Stavrakakis: Walter in »Giullaume Tell/William Tell«, Caronte in »L’Orfeo«, Timur in »Turandot«

Tuuli Takala: Debut as Micaëla in »Carmen«. Pamina in »The Magic Flute«, Adina in »L’elisir d’amore/The Elixir of Love«

New ensemble members

Nikola Hillebrand: German coloratura soprano: Queen of the Night in »The Magic Flute«, Konstanze in »Die Entfüh-rung aus dem Serail«, Gilda in »Rigoletto«, Ännchen in »Der Freischütz«

Guest singers

Pavol Breslik: Nemorino in »L’elisir d’amore/Der Liebestrank«

Annette Dasch: Rosalinde in »Die Fledermaus«

Angela Gheorghiu: Title part in »Tosca« (20. & 28. November 2020)

Venera Gimadieva: Mathilde in »Guillaume Tell/William Tell«

Elena Gorshunova: Konstanze in »Die Entführung aus dem Serail«, Musetta in »La bohème«, Gilda in »Rigoletto«

Stephen Gould: Siegmund in »Die Walküre«, title part in »Siegfried« and Siegfried in »Götterdämmerung«

Anja Harteros: Song recital (28. Oktober 2020), title par in »Tosca« (8. & 12. November 2020)

Saioa Hernández: Abigaille in »Nabucco«

Jennifer Holloway: Freia in »Das Rheingold«, Sieglinde in »Die Walküre«, Gutrune in »Götterdämmerung«

Petra Lang: Brünnhilde in »Der Ring des Nibelungen«

René Pape: Sarastro in »The Magic Flute«, Filippo II in »Don Carlo«

Christoph Pohl: Title part in »Guillaume Tell/William Tell«, Count in »Capriccio«

Anne Schwanewilms: Marschallin in »Der Rosenkavalier«, title part in »The Grand Duchesse de Gerolstein«

Krassimira Stoyanova: Countess in »Capriccio«

Rolando Villazón: Title part in »L’Orfeo«

Michael Volle: Wotan in »Das Rheingold« und »Die Walküre«, Wanderer in »Götterdämmerung«

Georg Zeppenfeld (»Kammersänger des Freistaates Sachsen«): Gessler in »Guillaume Tell/William Tell«, La Roche in »Capriccio«, Sarastro in »The Magic Flute«, Fafner in »Das Rheingold« and »Siegfried«, Hunding in »Die Walküre«

New singers/Dresden debuts

Andrea Carè, Italian tenor: Don José in »Carmen«, Cavaradossi in »Tosca«

Marianne Crebassa, French mezzo-soprano: Rosina in »Il barbiere di Siviglia/The Barber of Seville«

Andrzej Filończyk, Polish bass baritone: Title part in »Don Giovanni«

Sofia Fomina, Russian soprano: Dresden debut as Pamina in »The Magic Flute«

Elena Guseva, Russian soprano: Donna Elvira in »Don Giovanni«

Tobias Kehrer, German bass singer: Osmin in »Die Entführung aus dem Serail« Kai Kluge, German tenor: Belmonte in »Die Entführung aus dem Serail« Olga Kulchynska, Ukrainian soprano: Musetta in »La bohème«

Maria Teresa Leva, Italian soprano: Mimì in »La bohème«

Lise Lindstrom, American soprano: title part in »Turandot«

Najmiddin Mavlyanov, Uzbek tenor: Rodolfo in »La bohème«, Mario Cavaradossi in »Tosca«

Erwin Schrott, Uruguayan bass baritone. Escamillo in »Carmen«, Dulcamara in »L’elisir d’amore/The Elixir of Love«

Michael Spyres, American tenor: Arnold von Melchtal in »Guillaume Tell/William Tell«

Facts and figures

Seating capacity 1.309

Artistic team Staatsoper Dresden* 417 (in 2019)

Annual budget Staatsoper Dresden* approx. 53,4 Mio. Euro (in 2019)

Perfomances in core business (Opera/Ballet/Concert) 259 (in 2019)

Number of visitors in core business 291 765 (in 2019)

The Semperoper Dresden saw in core business 91,9 % capacity in 2019

Ticket revenues in core business approx.17,3 Mio. Euro (in 2019)

Cost-recovery 38,2 % (in 2018)

*without central services (administration & workshops)

Premieres of the 2020/21 season 11

Opera 7

in Semper Zwei 2

Ballet 2

Junge Szene 2

German premieres 2

Dresden premieres 3

Repertoire of the 2020/21 season 32

Opera 26

Ballet 5

Junge Szene 1

Total performances in the 2020/21 season 281

PRESS CONTACT

Susanne Springer

Head of Communication and Marketing ∙ P + 49 351 49 11 251 ∙ susanne.springer@semperoper.de

Oliver Bernau

Press Officer ∙ P + 49 351 49 11 336 ∙ oliver.bernau@semperoper.de

The video of the press conference 2020 is available on semperoper.de/presse. Information on press material can be

found under the link semperoper.de/presse