Centrepieces of the HfM Dresden

Symphony Orchestra of the University

The Symphony Orchestra of the University of Music Carl Maria von Weber can be considered as one of the main parts of the educational institution. Next to the education of soloists and chamber musicians, orchestra performance with practical orientation constitutes the central core of training at the University. This direction continues a long music tradition in Dresden, defined not only by two world famous orchestras, the Sächsische Staatskapelle and the Dresden Symphony Orchestra, but also as a town in which composers like Heinrich Schütz, Carl Maria von Weber, Robert Schumann, Richard Wagner or Richard Strauss found an inspiring place to work.

In a gradual working process the University Symphony Orchestra creates symphonic programmes, performances in chamber music instrumentation and works for music theatre in different styles.

Since 2003 Ekkehard Klemm is the art director of the ensemble. Great guest conductors such as Sir Colin Davies, Peter Gülke, Wayne Marshall, Semyon Bychkow, Marek Janowski, Anthony Bramall, Hartmut Haenchen and others stood and stand on the rostrum. Next to performing in the Semperoper and in the currently opened concert hall of the University, the orchestra regularly gives guest performances outside the Saxon capital.

Opera Class

The main work of the Opera Class encompasses entire productions and scenic presentations of all music theatrical styles, co-productions with theatres, orchestras and art academies of Dresden as well as tours involving agencies, and exchange productions with German and European universities of music. The projects of the Opera Class follow the tradition of the town's opera history and at the same time, pay attention to innovative movements in the national and international music theatre scene.

In a very special way the University liaised with the Staatsschauspiel Dresden: The 'Kleine Haus' of the Staatsschauspiel Dresden functions as the regular performance stage for the Opera Class, which is fully prepared with orchestra pit and stage equipment if desired. This allows an education on a very high level with focus on practical training in all fields of music theatre. As for project work this model of training is unique in German-speaking universities of music. Every year, the Opera Class stages two completed productions as repertoire-performances.