Dresden – a City of Culture

Dresden offers cultural attractions in a great variety. Renowned ensembles such as the Saxonian State Orchestra, the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kreuzchor, and the Semper Opera represent the city as well as world-famous art collections, china and valuables or Germany‘s oldest art college. But Dresden is also home to modernity: Opera, Theatre and Operetta regularly produce interesting performances.

The Dresden Music Festival plays an important part in the cultural life of the city. Founded in 1978, it has meanwhile gained an outstanding position among the famous European music festivals. Having had 150.000 guests in 2003, the first season under the directorship of the well-known conductor Hartmut Haenchen, the Dresden Music Festival has become the largest classic music festival in Germany. Every year, international and local artists and ensembles are invited to Dresden to enrich the musical life of the city.

Dresden – a City of Music during the Baroque Period

At the end of the 17th century, Dresden was capital of the Saxon Electorate, which was the third-largest economically leading country of Germany. The economic power of Saxony was based on the mineral resources of the Ore Mountains in particular, but was also derived from the highly developed agriculture. Being in the middle of Europe, Saxony was influenced by many cultural streams from all directions. Especially during the first half of the 18th century – when Saxon Electorates were Kings of Poland at the same time – Dresden had had a very glorious period.

Augustus the Strong (1694–1733) knew how to promote his electorate economically and culturally. His successor Friedrich August II (1733–1763), however, ruined the country by waging wars. This had severe consequences for the cultural history, too. Nowadays, the reminiscences of the high time of Saxony can be seen in the various castles and baroque architecture in Dresden and Warsaw. The Dresden State Art Collections and their galleries are one of the world‘s most famous art collections. Music played a dominant role both in churches and chambers, but also dominated the festivities at the Saxon court.

The public was given access to performances in churches and theatres. It was popular to be interested in Italian opera and in Italian and French plays on stage. Tickets were available at no charge, provided that the audience was »properly dressed«, as it were.