Freunde der italienischen Oper

Following the success of the full-length album “Kassandra’s Complex” (2024) – which premiered on October 3, 2024, at the venerable Schauspielhaus of the Staatsschauspiel Dresden and was reissued within a short time – it was incentive enough for Freunde der italienischen Oper (Friends of Italian Opera) to retreat into seclusion once again and shorten the time between albums to two years. Unlike its predecessor, this album features entirely new compositions. The band was delighted to establish a new premiere partnership with HELLERAU to present the new work to the public for the first time at the Festspielhaus, also on October 3.

As a special surprise, the Freunde der italienischen Oper and opera superstar René Pape have finally managed, after 21 years, to realize their shared wish for a renewed collaboration following the ARTE documentary “Mein Herz brennt” and to find a date that works for both.

History of the Freunde der italienischen Oper

The Freunde der italienischen Oper (Friends of Italian Opera) were founded in Dresden in 1987 and made their debut performance on October 7, 1988 – at that time still operating illegally – at the “Klub Südstadt” (Cottbus). Shortly thereafter, director Wolfgang Engel took notice of them and cast them in his production of “Faust” at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, with singer Ray van Zeschau in the role of “Euphorion”. On March 25, 1991, the band performed their own one-time revue at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. In the early 1990s, Freunde der italienischen Oper were considered by many journalists to be the best and most innovative band in the new federal states. After several breakups and reunions, concert projects, and tours—including with bands such as DIE ART – the Freunde der italienischen Oper released their album “Kassandras Komplex” in 2024 with a sold-out release concert at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. They will present their new album “Angelus Luminis” to the public for the first time on October 3, 2026, in HELLERAU as part of an extraordinary film-and-music project featuring guests such as René Pape.

“Having grown up under a dictatorship – tormented, humiliated, robbed, and enslaved – we are the product of both tragedy and comedy existing simultaneously. Through a reinterpretation of the ‘opera in musica,’ subculture and art become the culture of a violated generation.” – Freunde der italienischen Oper

“We are the heroic essence of rock ’n’ roll.” – Freunde der italienischen Oper