Singer

The celebrated singer Tosca lives only for art, until political intrigue suddenly disturbs her life and that of her lover, the painter Cavaradossi: When Cavaradossi hides the political refugee Angelotti, he is targeted by the unscrupulous police chief Scarpia, who has long had his eye on Tosca. To save Cavaradossi, Tosca not only has to betray Angelotti, but also give herself to Scarpia. Premiered in 1900, Puccini’s »Tosca« is practically unique in its close interweaving of political power and personal passions. The German premiere of this opera about love, jealousy, betrayal and tyranny was held in Dresden in 1902. Director Johannes Schaaf has found a timeless narrative style for his staging.

Tosca

Semperoper Dresden

The orchestra's harsh and relentless beats call for judgment, the flames of purgatory blaze in the chorus: Verdi, a born dramatist, knew how to   spectacularly stage the thunder and howls of anguish on the Day of Judgement  in the Dies irae . But no less impressive are the quiet moments of the Messa da Requiem , in which Verdi musically explores the pangs of conscience and the hope for the mercy of the Judge of the World.

Requiem Message

Stadttheater Klagenfurt

It is a finale that marks a new beginning: after four years and the acclaimed productions of Die Walküre , Siegfried and Götterdämmerung , artistic director Aron Stiehl and chief conductor Nicholas Milton will bring the Klagenfurt Ring to a close with Rheingold .

The Rhinegold

Richard Wagner’s »Lohengrin«, which premiered in Weimar in 1850, is closely associated with Dresden: Inspired by the charming landscape around the nearby village of Graupa, Wagner began the opera in 1846 when employed as Kapellmeister to the royal court, completing the work in the Saxon capital in 1849. Since its first performance in Dresden ten years later, the work has been heard over 850 times at the Semperoper. This production from 1983 is a true classic, thrilling audiences year after year. Retaining the work’s roots in both the 19th century and the Middle Ages, director Christine Mielitz tells the story of Elsa, unlawfully accused of murder and at the mercy of her adversaries in the duchy of Brabant, who is rescued by the mysterious Swan Knight. This is a tragic tale of a woman fighting for recognition but also for knowledge. At the end comes the bitter realization that her justifiable wish to know the name of the person to whom she owes her happiness will result in his downfall.

Lohengrin

The Young Siegfried (the original title of Wagner’s libretto) tells the story of the son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, the Wälsung pair. After his father’s death at Hunding’s hand, and his mother’s death in childbirth, Siegfried is raised by Mime. Siegfried tells the story of a young man railing against his foster father, who, though he claims to have the boy’s best interests at heart, is only interested in Siegfried as a part of his plan to claim the treasure of the Niebelungen from Fafner the dragon. Only one who has no fear can defeat Fafner. And so Siegfried forges his sword, slays Fafner, and claims the ring and the Tarnhelm for himself.

Siegfried

Oper Leipzig

In the fairytale forest, we encounter the familiar figures of the poor siblings who have lost their way as well as the Gingerbread Witch. The story comes to a head in the famous edible house, which is sweet on the outside but a death trap within. In 1893 Engelbert Humperdinck transformed the tale by the Brothers Grimm into a work which is probably the most famous fairy-tale opera in the repertoire.

Hansel and Gretel

Prince Tamino is being pursued by a wild serpent. At the last minute, he is saved by three mysterious ladies who have been sent by the queen of the night. When the bird catcher Papageno appears and boasts about the heroic deed they punish him. In contrast, they give the prince a portrait of Pamina, the daughter of the queen who is being held captive by the ruler of the temple of the sun, Sarastro. Tamino falls in love with her. The queen appears in person and orders him to rescue Pamina together with Papageno. A magic flute will protect him from any danger whilst a reluctant Papageno is given magic bells. Guided by three young boys, they set off on their way to Sarastro’s temple. Whilst the temple guards tell Tamino that Sarastro is not the evil tyrant that the queen has depicted, Papageno finds Pamino and tries to flee with her. With the help of the chimes, he is able to distract her guard Monostatos although his efforts are scuppered by the appearance of Sarastro. Papageno, Pamina and Tamino have to stay in Sarastro’s kingdom as Sarastro has something greater planned for Tamino: just as he has taken Pamina into his kingdom to protect her from her mother, he plans to get Tamino into his circle of insiders of the sun temple and, in this way, prepare him for future tasks.

Die Zauberflöte / The Magic Flute

Richard Wagner's 1868 »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg« is one of the composer's most popular works - and a wonderful musical comedy. This takes place around midsummer night in medieval Nuremberg, where the widowed shoemaker Hans Sachs, the town clerk Sixtus Beckmesser and the young aristocratic daredevil Walther von Stolzing sing, write poetry and also fight over Eva. Why? Because the goldsmith Pogner advertised his coveted daughter as a prize in the annual singing competition to make it clear how important art is to him. And so »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg« becomes a musical masterpiece that poses the question of the importance of art – here music – for our lives and society. Reason enough for director Jens-Daniel Herzog

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Master-Singers of Nuremberg)

When the Norns weave the thread of fate at the beginning of Richard Wagner's "Götterdämmerung," the end of the world of the gods is already certain. The hero Siegfried falls victim to an intrigue at the court of the Gibichungs, and Brünnhilde resolves to return the Ring to the Rhinemaidens. The male principle, in its insane quest for power and dominance, has destroyed itself. Only the female can oppose the impending apocalypse and develop the saving power for a new beginning. In the final part of "The Ring of the Nibelung," Richard Wagner takes up the major threads of the tetralogy once again and combines them into an apotheosis. In Willy Decker's production of Richard Wagner's drama of humanity, everything is "theater within the theater," and so the abdicated god Wotan lets the curtain fall at the end.

Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods)

Semper Opera Dresden

Siegfried, the son of Sieglinde, who was saved in Die Walküre, and Siegmund, who was killed, grows up on the edge of the world with Alberich's brother Mime. Mime hopes that Siegfried will fight for the powerful ring for him. But the ignorant Siegfried turns against his foster father, and after he has taken the ring from the killed giant Fafner, he also kills Mime. Guided by a forest bird, he awakens the sleeping Brünnhilde. Now the two could save Wotan's world of gods – if love weren't stronger than political reason. »Siegfried« is the most theatrical part of Wagner's tetralogy »The Ring of the Nibelung«. Director Willy Decker therefore created his Dresden stage cosmos as a theater within a theatre. However, those who flaunt themselves on the stage and who take the position of observer

A bohemian flat share in Parisian artist and student circles: the poet Rodolfo and his friends struggle through life between freedom, independence, art and financial hardship. When Rodolfo falls in love with the neighbor Mimì everything seems to be going for the better at first, but poverty and Mimì's illness overshadow the relationship. The two grow closer, separate again and finally only find each other when it is already too late. At the time of its premiere in 1896, what is probably Puccini's best-known opera offered a novelty in Italian opera thanks to its intimate scenery and everyday subject. In the production by director Christine Mielitz, Puccini's fourth opera is one of the most popular repertoire classics at the Semperoper Dresden.

La Bohème

Mozart’s most popular opera is a deeply humane story of adventure with heavenly music.

Die Zauberflöte

A story fizzing with irony and champagne, all danced to the sounds of the waltz.

Die Fledermaus

The young farmer Nemorino is head over heels in love with the beautiful and rich Adina, but he doesn't dare woo her. In the story of Tristan and Isolde, he sees the solution to his problem: a love potion is needed! When a company of soldiers, led by the macho Belcore, arrives in the village, time is of the essence, as Adina seems to take a liking to the self-confident sergeant. Just at that moment, the traveling physician Dulcamara arrives in the village, praising his medicine, which is supposed to cure all ailments. From him, Nemorino buys a bottle of Isolde's legendary love potion. Admittedly, Dulcamara has sold him nothing but a bottle of red wine, but to the quack's surprise, after a few complications, the drink achieves its desired result and unites the young lovers.

Bass-baritone

Markus Marquardt

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 16, 2026

Die Fledermaus · Semperoper Dresden

Mar 8 - May 2, 2026

The love potion – L'elisir d'amore · Stadttheater Klagenfurt

Past events

18 - 25 Oct, 2025

Tosca · Semperoper Dresden

May 31 - Jun 5, 2025

Requiem Message · Stadttheater Klagenfurt

Future and recently performed repertoire

Frank in Die Fledermaus by Strauss

Semperoper Dresden

Dulcamara in L'elisir d'amore by Donizetti

Stadttheater Klagenfurt

Fritz Kothner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg by Wagner

Semperoper Dresden

Alberich in Götterdämmerung by Wagner

Semperoper Dresden

Singer in Requiem by Verdi

Stadttheater Klagenfurt

Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte by Mozart

Semperoper Dresden

Peter (Vater) in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck

Semperoper Dresden

Der Mesner in Tosca by Puccini

Semperoper Dresden

Colline in La Bohème by Puccini

Semperoper Dresden

Alberich in Das Rheingold by Wagner

Stadttheater Klagenfurt

Alberich in Siegfried by Wagner

Semperoper Dresden

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