Felix Semmelroth (1949-2026)

THE ALTE OPER FRANKFURT MOURNS THE LOSS OF FELIX SEMMELROTH, WHO PASSED AWAY ON 6 AUGUST 2026 AT THE AGE OF 76

Felix Semmelroth was a wonderful person to talk to about art and culture. And one could learn a great deal from him. A doctor of literary studies, he was an intelligent, well-read and exceptionally knowledgeable conversationalist – someone who knew how to draw connections and drew naturally on his wealth of knowledge. At the same time, he possessed a special personal charisma: polite and engaging in his manner, refined in his tone, passionate about the subject and unwavering when it came to the significance of art and culture.

With the passing of Felix Semmelroth, the Alte Oper has lost a long-standing and steadfast advocate. From 2006 to 2016, Felix Semmelroth served as Head of the City of Frankfurt’s Department of Culture and as Deputy Chairman of the Alte Oper’s Supervisory Board. During those ten years, he championed the theatre’s interests with great dedication. As financial constraints tightened, he stood all the more firmly behind the city’s cultural funding – and thus also behind the Alte Oper. He understood the significance of the Alte Oper as a venue where the highest artistic standards are upheld – and, at the same time, that this quality must not be limited to preservation alone.

Felix Semmelroth did not view the guiding principle of his predecessor’s predecessor, Hilmar Hoffmann – ‘Culture for all’ – as being at odds with high culture. He was convinced that new avenues to culture could be opened up without compromising artistic standards or quality. The seriousness with which he took this idea was evident, amongst other things, in his commitment to cultural education. When the Alte Oper established its children’s and youth programme, PEGASUS, he passionately emphasised the importance of the Alte Oper having its own independent music programme for young people. And, on the sidelines of the programme presentation, he spontaneously and confidently rattled off a brief overview of the Pegasus myth within Greek mythology. He appreciated the launch of a new world music series – which began with music from the homelands of refugees – just as much as he did a classical concert featuring a top-class international orchestra.

Felix Semmelroth will thus be fondly remembered by the Alte Oper: as a cultured and charismatic cultural politician, as a passionate advocate for the arts, and as someone who always approached this institution with great interest and personal warmth. He combined intellectual rigour with humanity, political tenacity with refined manners, and his conviction in the power of culture with a willingness to stand up for it.

Our thoughts are with his family and with all those who were close to Felix Semmelroth.