“It would be most wonderful if this Tristan never ended.” (Opernmagazin) “Brilliant performances that bring you to your knees” (Sächsische Zeitung) Every piece of the puzzle fell perfectly into place for this historic performance of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde at the Semperoper Dresden. In front of a pared down, timeless staging by Marco Arturo Marelli, the vocal performances could truly shine. Klaus Florian Vogt is “fully present” (Opernmagazin) and Camilla Nylund as Isolde at his side “convinced with her still incredibly lyrical, light soprano” (Sächsische Zeitung). At the zenith of his career, Christian Thielemann manages to set a new standard with his permeation of this difficult score and leads the Staatskapelle Dresden to new heights of artistic expression.
Lohengrin
This most anticipated premiere features Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala in their first ever Wagnerian roles as Elsa and Lohengrin under the baton of Christian Thielemann, doubtlessly today’s foremost conductor of this repertoire. Outstanding Wagnerians Evelyn Herlitzius and Tomasz Konieczny are starring as the opponents Ortrud and Friedrich von Telramund and Georg Zeppenfeld is Heinrich der Vogler at the prestigious Semperoper Dresden, with the Staatskapelle Dresden in the pit. The production with its psychologic depth, timeless setting and stunning costumes is staged after the original production by Christine Mielitz, the internationally acclaimed director, who is affiliated with the Semperoper since her beginnings alongside Harry Kupfer. “Netrebko and Beczala are Wagner Stars (New York Times)”; “Pure bliss! Never ending applause! (FAZ)”
Tristan und Isolde
Semperoper Dresden presents an historic performance of Tristan and Isolde, directed by Marco Arturo Marelli and conducted by world-leading conductor Christian Thielemann. The sound he obtains from the Wagnerian score “fills the room with elegiac longing, drawing listeners into the emotional depths of the famous lovers.” (Opera Online) Klaus Florian Vogt, in his debut as Tristan, is “fully present and convincing with natural phrasing and clear diction” (Opernmagazin), while Camilla Nylund as Isolde “convinced with her still incredibly lyrical, light soprano” (Sächsische Zeitung). At the zenith of his career, Christian Thielemann manages to set a new standard with his permeation of this difficult score and leads the Staatskapelle Dresden to new heights of artistic expression. “It would be most wonderful if this Tristan never ended.” (Opernmagazin). “Brilliant performances that bring you to your knees”. (Sächsische Zeitung)
Bruckner: The Symphonies 1-9
This Blu-ray box contains the international acclaimed Bruckner cycle of Christian Thielemann, a “magician of the Bruckner sound”(Kurier on Symphony No. 5) and the Staatskapelle Dresden, whose own Bruckner tradition dates back more than a century. Outstanding reviews emphasize the exceptionally high artistic quality of the concerts: “Once again Thielemann proved to be the unrestricted ruler on his ancestral territory, German Romantic repertoire” (Hamburger Abendblatt on Symphony No. 2). Christian
Thielemann “displays the full musical maelstrom of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3” (Münchner Merkur). “Another Bruckner triumph for Dresden” (Sächsische Zeitung on Symphony No. 6). “… one would have to be hard-hearted not to be touched by this heartfelt music” (Der Tagesspiegel on Symphony No. 8).
Thielemann and Znajder in Prague
One of the world’s oldest orchestras, the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, and their distinguished Chief Conductor Christian Thielemann are joined by star-violinist Nikolaj Znaider in a concert at the Czech capital’s legendary Rudolfinum concert hall. “The first thing one became aware of in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto was the rhythmic heat of Thielemann’s conducting. The second was the sheer sumptuousness of the Dresden orchestra’s sound” (The Telegraph), while Znaider proved to be an “impeccable soloist”. In the Reger, Thielemann offered a “wonderfully buoyant, lucid performance”. As for the Strauss: “The Dresden Staatskapelle is the Strauss orchestra par excellence and it still plays that music with a unique understanding” (The Guardian).
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2025
It is the traditional start to the pre-Christmas season for classical music lovers throughout Germany: on the eve of the First Advent, the Frauenkirche shines in its baroque splendour and offers a magnificent experience with the Sächsische Staatskapelle, the Sächsischer Staatsopernchor and the Kreuzchor Dresden. Conductor Nicholas Collon takes the podium for this year’s concert, joined by the dazzling soprano Elsa Dreisig, star tenor Benjamin Bernheim, and virtuoso violinist Daniel Hope. Together, they present a festive programme of Mozart, Berlioz, Bach, Gounod, and more.
New Year’s Eve Concert at Semperoper Dresden
The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden rings in the New Year at the Semperoper with a dazzling program of timeless hits and international stars. Andrès Orozco-Estrada conducts, with soprano Pretty Yende, baritone Benjamin Appl, and cellist Gautier Capucon as soloists. The concert spans Haydn to Márquez, featuring operatic arias, Broadway favourites, Latin rhythms, and orchestral gems like Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Haydn’s Cello Concerto, Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel, and iconic songs from My Fair Lady and Singin’ in the Rain.
Salzburg Easter Festival 2018: Tosca
Anja Harteros excels in the title role of Michael Sturminger’s cinematic staging of Puccini’s “Tosca”, the centrepiece of Salzburg Easter Festival. Aleksandrs Antonenko compellingly portrays Cavaradossi, while Ludovic Tézier is a thrillingly malevolent Scarpia. Christian Thielemann leads the Staatskapelle Dresden. “Tosca” is a political thriller with a heart-breaking love story that gives a vivid account of the harassment of artists, political persecution, torture and arbitrary executions. In Salzburg it is set in the Mafiosi world of modern day Rome and is “the perfect thriller … reminiscent of Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas’” (Kleine Zeitung), a “film noir” (FAZ).
Salzburg Easter Festival 2017: Die Walküre
In 1967 the first Salzburg Easter Festival presented a now legendary production of Richard Wagner’s “Ring des Nibelungen” tetralogy, led by Herbert von Karajan. The 50th anniversary of the festival in 2017 saw a new production of “Die Walküre” by famous Bulgarian director Vera Nemirova which is set in a unique “re-creation” of this very first Salzburg Easter Festival opera production in the set by Günther Schneider-Siemssen. Christian Thielemann conducts his Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and an illustrous cast including Anja Harteros, Anja Kampe, Vitalij Kowaljow and Peter Seiffert. The critics are full of praise for this “musically ravishing Walküre” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and ist “excellent ensemble of soloists”. As Sieglinde, Anja Harteros is “enchanting and elegant”, Peter Seiffert “amazingly presents a steady and expressive Siegmund”, Christa Mayer “shows off as irresistible, throroughbred Fricka” and Anja Kampe is celebrated as “outstanding Brünnhilde” (Süddeutsche Zeitung).
A Swan Lake
After his acclaimed literary adaptations of »Carmen« and »Peer Gynt«, The Swedish choreographer Johan Inger now turns towards a story that has become a ballet classic in the performance canon and that represents another facet of the choreographer: “A Swan Lake”. The new production of the Semperoper Ballett asks profound questions such as: What influence do violence and manipulation have on interpersonal relationships? What role do personal freedom, respect and acceptance play in a romantic relationship?