The organizers of a grand ball at Germany's Semperoper opera house in Dresden decided to honor Egypt's authoritarian president, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, with an award. A reporter set to host the event has now backed out.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Burgi
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The organizers of the prestigious Semperoper Ball, a glitzy annual party at the Dresden opera house, found themselves mired in controversy ahead of the February 7 event.
A crucial part of the festivities is the awarding of the Order of St. George, described on the event's page as a medal for "those who have, like St. George, been a force for good in the world." This year, the organizers decided to award it to Egyptian president and former general Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
The Egyptian strongman contributed to his country's stability and promoted culture and education, they said. A delegation traveled to Cairo and presented el-Sissi with his medal on Sunday.
One host short
El-Sissi's rule in Egypt has been marred by brutal crackdowns, including the suppression of a popular anti-corruption movement in 2019. The news of the award sparked fervent criticism in Germany.
On Wednesday evening, TV journalist Judith Rakers said she was no longer willing to host the event. She previously said she was "very irritated" by the organizers' choice to award el-Sissi.
Singer Roland Kaiser, also booked as a host, said he would stay on the job but also noted that he would have refused if he "had known in advance" that el-Sissi would receive the medal.
The organizers initially argued that the decision was based on culture and not politics. Faced with the pressure from the public, however, the head of the organizers' association Hans-Joachim Frey has since admitted that the choice was "a mistake." It was not immediately clear if the association was planning to revoke the decision or to cancel the invitation to the president to attend the ball.
Public television to still show the ball
Commenting on Rakers' announcement on Wednesday, the organizers said they would respect her wish and that they had "full understanding" of her decision to back out of the event.
German public broadcaster MDR also slammed the organizers and criticized the "serious repression against journalists and the ever-growing restrictions of free-thinking and press freedom" under el-Sissi. However, they said they would still televise the ball as previously planned.
"The MDR has made it very clear that we will not show [the award ceremony] on-air" they said.
Semperoper: the jewel of Dresden
Join DW on a tour through Dresden's Semperoper, one of the most beautiful opera houses in Europe. Excellent acoustics and an ornate interior fit for royals, have made its architect, Gottfried Semper, world-famous.
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Semper Opera Ball
Germany's most prestigious ball is the Semper Opera Ball in Dresden, held on January 26, 2018. The 2,500-guest event brings together celebrities and members of high-society, and is even broadcast live to thousands of spectators outside the opera house. One highlight is the opening choreographed performance by 100 debutantes.
Image: Kongressbild.de
A turbulent history
Today, the Semperoper is one of the dazzling attractions in Dresden's historic old town center. But few realize this is the third version of the iconic opera house to occupy this spot. The original from 1840 burnt down in 1869, and the second was destroyed by bombing in the Second World War. It's mainly thanks to pressure from Dresden residents themselves that the building was restored.
Image: AP
Rebuilding from afar
Before it burned down, the first Semperoper built by Gottfried Semper looked something like this. Semper was seen as the only architect right for the rebuilding job, but at the time he was in exile in Vienna. Along with Richard Wagner, he had participated in the Dresden uprising of 1849. Semper designed the new building in exile, while his son Manfried carried out the instructions on-site.
Image: DW/S. Bartlick
Reduced to rubble
The second Semperoper didn't last either. The stage and auditorium were obliterated in the bombing of Dresden in February 1945, and the firestorm that followed destroyed the rest of the building. The facade was reconstructed in the post-war years, and the rebuilding of the interior got underway in 1977. The opera house was finally re-opened in February 1985 - 40 years after it was destroyed.
Image: picture alliance/zb
Striking facade
Many of the building's original details were reconstructed, thanks to Semper's surviving sketches. Restorers also discovered some original frescoes during work on the opera house ceiling. The wall panelling, made to look like oak, is actually painted plaster - the idea was to reduce the risk of the building catching fire.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
Staircase fir for a king
The marble columns in the grand staircase vestibule leading to the performance hall are an opera house highlight. No costs were spared with these extravagant replicas, made to conform to the Semper style of the Italian Renaissance. Plasterers invested 300 to 500 hours just to make each column look like marble.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
A sight to behold
The reconstruction provided a good opportunity to make improvements to the concert hall. The parquet and seating terraces were re-built with a slight incline to allow for a better view. The outer wall was also pushed back a few meters to create more space, which meant most of the viewing boxes had to go. Only one still exists today, reserved for high-ranking guests of the Saxon State Government.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
Sought-after seats
Concerts, operas and ballet performances on this stage are often sold out. With its 1,300 seats, the Semperoper is the most profitable opera house in Germany. The concert hall is known for its excellent acoustics, making it possible for actors and singers to perform without a microphone. The Semperoper is also the home to the Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the oldest orchestras in the world.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
Shimmering heavyweight
The chandelier hanging from the ornate hall ceiling weighs an impressive 1.9 tons and is secured with numerous ropes. It miraculously survived bombing in the Second World War, but didn’t make it through the GDR in one piece. The original frame was melted down during the collection of non-ferrous metal in East Germany's early years. Today’s chandelier is a replica.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
Room with a view
During performance intervals, concert-goers are free to wander like royals through the arched corridors and castle-like gallery of the main foyer. The stucco ceiling, which was completely destroyed, was restored using Semper’s original drawings. The large windows invite visitors to gaze over Theaterplatz - a square that has come to occupy an important place in Dresden’s architectural history.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
Historical Theaterplatz
From here, to the left, lies the late Baroque Dresden Cathedral. To the right, the recently restored Renaissance-style Dresden Castle stands next to the classical Shinkelwache. Out of sight, but still in the immediate vicinity, the Baroque Zwinger houses the Old Masters Portrait Gallery and other important exhibitions. In Summer, open air concerts take place in the court area.
Image: DW/Elisabeth Jahn
Florence on the Elbe
The Semperoper, on the far right, is one of the many sights in the old town that had to be rebuilt. For many Dresden locals, it’s more than just a re-opened opera house. Following years of faithful reconstruction, the Semperoper has not only - once again - become an important part of the city’s skyline. It's also a key symbol of Dresden's cultural identity, past and present.
