The Semperoper opera house, built in the mid-19th century by Gottfried Semper, is one of Germany's finest examples of neo-renaissance architecture. Destroyed by fire in 1869 and 1945, the building you see today is an exact replica of the original. The repertoire generally consists of classical opera; unconventional and contemporary works are performed in the Kleine Szene theatre on Bautzner Straße. Tickets should be reserved well in advance. Guided tours can also be arranged.