Dresden celebrates 100 years of the Semper Opera Ball

Dresden is celebrating the establishment of the ball tradition at the famous Semperoper 100 years ago with an anniversary edition on February 7, 2025. This is intended to build on the comeback of the Dresden Semperoper Ball after the corona pandemic with a different concept this year, said the newly elected chairman of the ball association, Gerhard Müller.

Under the motto "Let's celebrate", around 2,000 guests can dance in the world-famous theater hall - and others can dance in parallel at the open-air ball in front of the building. "This is a unique selling point, and we are sticking to it."

Most of the tickets already sold

Although nothing is known about the program and artists yet, "80 percent of the tickets are already gone," said Müller. For the 100th anniversary, Dresden designer Dorothea Michalk created a wide, swinging, shimmering golden dress for the debutantes. It will be handmade in Saxony, as will the matching jewelry from the studio of Dresden goldsmith Barbara Oehlke.

"The ball will be an important cultural highlight and also an integral part of our 2024/25 schedule," said the new opera director Nora Schmid. In addition to the Staatskapelle, State Opera Choir, soloists and ballet, the Semperoper Children's Choir will also be part of the program for the first time.

Debutante with celebrities

According to Müller, the organizers are still looking for sponsors for the anniversary ball - and 100 debutante couples. At a casting on September 21, 16- to 29-year-olds, including couples, who have mastered the Viennese waltz, including right and left turns, can audition.

With Lucia von Faber-Castell, daughter of actress Mariella Ahrens, a prominent debutante is also still waiting for her ball partner - candidates can apply with a dance video via the Semperoper Ball's Instagram account.

Long ball history

The first opera ball in the court theater, which was built according to plans by architect Gottfried Semper between 1871 and 1878, took place on 21 February 1925 - and then almost every year at the beginning of February until 1939. The tradition ended with the 12th glittering ball in the opera house in 1939 - the year in which the Second World War began.

In July 1989, a baroque-style festival of the muses in and around the opera house recalled the splendor of days gone by. The first ball of the Saxon State Opera in 2006 followed on from this after 67 years - and with an open-air counterpart.