The Dresden Semper Opera House is the most famous opera house in Germany.  Built between 1838 and 1841 by Gottfried Semper, it was closed in August 1944 and destroyed by the Allied air raid six months later.  On 13 February 1985, exactly 40 years after the destruction, the ceremonial inauguration took place, the programme included "Der Freischütz" by Carl Maria von Weber - the opera was written in Dresden.

The opening of the new Semperoper was commemorated by the "Dresden Festival" in February and March 2010, when Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Dresden Peace Prize for the first time. Closely associated with the opera house is also the Semper Opera Ball, which takes place every year in January.

The Semper Opera House is home to the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the oldest and most renowned orchestras in the world.