Dresden
 

Ever since my first trip to Dresden, starting before the Wall came down, I have made it a priority to return every 4 to 5 years to experience the rebirth and rejuvenation of a truly unique and beautiful city. I had planned to return again this month for the re-dedication of the Frauenkirche, but the arrival yesterday of a new grandchild altered my plans. I guess I will have to wait to search for the stone that bears my name. To the people of Dresden and to those who love and appreciate this city I offer my best wishes for peace and prosperity!

Thank you CharlieB!! The grandchild has priority of course :-)

Thank you for the donation! So your contribution among many others made the wonder happen. I am just back from attending the festivities on occasion of the re-dedication of the Frauenkirche. It was so emotional, moving. I did not have the luck to get a ticket for the dedication service (but joined the crowd at the square in front of the church) and did not want to wait for hours to get inside for a short visit ... but I will do this later next week. And I have tickets for an organ concert at Christmas time ... yahoo!

I hope you'll come and see Dresden's Frauenkirche soon.

www.frauenkirche-dresden.de

Hello ingo, I just read about the rededication of the Frauenkirche this morning on the web. A very special day! Best wishes to you and enjoy the Christmas Concert.

And best wishes to you CharlieB on the birth of your grandchild. A grandchild is always a blessing.

Peace to all!

I was excited to read about the rededication on the news. From the pictures, it looks magnificent.

It is definitely on my short list for my visit next summer!

And thanks, Ingo, for mentioning the organ concert. I've been reading they have great concerts, so now I have to do some research as to whether we can go to one on our visit.

Great news about the re-dedication of the Frauenkirche. I'm looking forward to seeing this church when I'm in Dresden in May.

Ingo, Is the organ new, or did it survive the bombing?

Thanks to all for the wishes. The church is indeed magnificent - beyond imagination! Opposite to the south German Baroque it is very bright, in pastel colours (green, yellow mostly).

The acoustics are extraordinary. No personal experience so far, though :-) The folks who had the luck to listen to music inside in the first two days said it is spectacular. Especially when the choir sings from the big (upper) cupola it seems like the sound comes right from heaven. The organist said that a single note (of the organ) is to hear 7.5 seconds long in the room. Wow.

Bird, the organ is a new one. There was a serious discussion about that (and some donators draw back the money). The old one (by Gottfried Silbermann) was destroyed in the fire 1945. The new organ is made by Daniel Kern, who is supposed to be France's best organ builder. He is from Strasbourg, exactly where Gottfried Silbermann had learnt in his brother's Andreas workshop. So there is a tradition ... Daniel Kern and the organist said that the new organ combines is the perfect instrument for playing old music as well as modern music.

If you want to listen to an original organ made by Gottfried Silbermann just go a few hundred meters further - into the catholic cathedral.

Looking forward to trip reports to Dresden :-)

Ingo, how exciting for you and for your wonderful city that you do such a great job of promoting. We were in Dresden a month or so ago and loved the city. Had the opportunity to tour the church as it was still being completed. Will post report soon. Thanks for all your wonderful info on Dresden. Enjoy the Christmas concert.

Julie, I am glad you enjoyed your trip. You were very lucky you could tour the church before it was completed!

Anxiously waiting for your report ;-)

Btw, for those who plan to visit the city next year: We are going to celebrate the 800th anniversary in 2006. The most exciting event will be the reopening of the HISTORICAL Green Vault (in Sept), the unparalleled collection of all sorts of jewels and other precious little things will be on display at its original place in the 18th century rooms in the Royal Palace - and that means you'll be able to see everything.(only 40% are on display so far in the New Green Vault).

Ingo,

Thanks for your response.

I regards to the 800 year celebration, is there anything going on in mid-May that I need to consider in making plans for my visit to Dresden?

Good thought, Bird.

How about happenings for mid July of 2006? There's a website that I think Ingo may have given that has the attractions, but it's only in German.

I found some sort of Stadfest 2006 during the time we're there. Is this what you're speaking of, Ingo?

I've looked into organ concerts at the Frauenkirche while we're there. Found one. Doesn't appear to be any opera at that time, though. That would have been nice as well.

Any other churches where you would recommend a good concert?

Thanks.

So many websites on the Frauenkirche, could you give me a couple of the main ones available, particularly the opening on the 30th. I am a slow novice on finding the best website, although of course, I do use Google. (so many always listed). Many thanks, Jay

Bird, kopp and jay - I will do a bit research today (I am interested in those events too) and post again later this day.

July/August the opera is closed, sorry. They must have a vacation (and maintenance) sometimes.

Jay, the best ressource in English is probably BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4391388.stm

This is the report on the re-dedication and you'll also find links to other BBC articles there - and even a video which shows the interior of the church (link on the upper right side).

Bird, May is excellent for a visit. Many events/festivals then, but this is also the reason for me to suggest you book accommodation soon.

May 6 - 14 the biggest Dixieland festival in Europe takes place in Dresden. Final parade May 14 in the city centre - usually some hundred thousands visitors. During the festival many events are open air events, some are free, and you'll see musicians all over the city centre playing/singing. Great atmosphere!

The festival for classical music (Dresdner Musikfestspiele) starts May 25 and will bring us two weeks with performances of excellent, world famous orchestras and singers. Their website is down at the moment, but you can try later:

http://www.musikfestspiele.com/cms/en/home/

May 25 an event called "Dresdner Lichter" (Dresden lights) will take place for the first time: The "skyline" along the river, which is always lit up by night, will be illuminated by special lights in special colours and big fireworks will finish the spectacular evening. Visitors can sit along the river, on the other bank, in beer gardens/on terraces of restaurants etc.

kopp, the opera closes July 10 for maintenance and will be reopened end August. Yes, the Stadtfest is what I was speaking of. It will be a full week with many events, a lot of those open-air on the beautiful Theaterplatz right in front of opera/Zwinger/cathedral. That weekend of July 15/16 is the full of top events. Classical open-air concerts e.g.

In summer there are open-air concerts in the Zwinger yard usually every day - not to miss. Other places for concerts are Schloss Albrechtsberg and the Music College "Carl-Maria-von-Weber".

Other churches for good concerts are the Kreuzkirche - you might consider to join a Saturday evening service at 5 or 6 pm (?) where the Kreuzchor (boys choir) performs -, Annenkirche and catholic cathedral.

For organ concerts: every Wed and Sat 11.30-12.00 am plus every 3rd Thur evening in the catholic cathedral - free. In the Kreuzkirche: every Tue and Thur at 3 pm - 15 minutes - free.

Ingo, you are such a wonderful resource! Thank you for all you do.

I have a German neighbor who helps out with some of my planning and translations. She is so very excited we are heading to Dresden.

I am sorry to hear the opera closes July 10. The way our schedule is today, we will arrive the 20th for 3 night.

Looks like on the 20th, we could attend the catholic cathedral; then on the 22nd the Kreuzkirche service with the boys choir at 5 or 6, and also the 8pm service at the Frauenkirche. Wow!

And all the festival activites. Seems like a great time to be in Dresden.

I am glad I can be of some help for you. And please pass on greetings to your German neighbour.

22nd 8 pm in the Frauenkirche - this is a concert, not a service. You need to buy tickets for that, and I admit they are quite expensive. It will be a first-class event, though. The Philharmonic chamber orchestra and Ludwig Güttler with his fellows will perform. Güttler is the speaker of the foundation of the foundation who initiated the rebuilding of the church - and a famous trumpeter.

The tickets for the church are to book through the website I posted above. You must know that the acoustics in the church are excellent no matter where you sit, but there are seats from where you cannot SEE much. I am assuming that the cheapest category is for such seats ... (12 Euro) - you better order those for 27 Euro. And if you can afford it - those for 52 Euro will certainly give you a good view. Or let me know and I'll ask in the ticket office.

I just had a look at the website of the Kreuzkirche (www.dresdner-kreuzkirche.de). I might be that due to school summer holidays there is no performance of the boys choir Saturday July 22 during the service. I am not sure about that, but will find out.

Let me know if you need more help with planning.

Ingo,

Many thanks. You are a valuable resource. I will be hitting you up for some advice in the future.

Bird