- Address: Czech Republic, Praha, Prague, Náměstí Míru
- Phone: +420 224 901 448
- Website: narodni-divadlo.cz
- Date of construction: 1783
- The capacity of the auditorium: 659 seats
The oldest theater in the Czech capital, Prague , is the Estates Theater (Stavovské divadlo). Its beautiful building in classical style adorns the Fruit Market Square in the area of Stare Mesto .
The history of the theater
The author of the project of the building of the theater was the architect Anton Haffenecker, and the patron of its construction is Count Franz Antonin Nostitz-Rynek. For the construction chosen a place at Charles University. The founders believed that the cultural and educational institutions would form one whole.
Works on erecting the building began in 1781, and in two years the theater gave the first idea: the tragedy of Emilia Galotti by Gotthold Lessing. From that time until today, the external appearance of the Estates Theater has not changed.
At first, the performances were staged here in German, and the operas in Italian. But already in 1786 the audience saw the play "Bretislav and Judit" in Czech. Gradually the theater becomes the cultural center of the whole Czech Republic . National holidays and matinees are held here. In 1798, it was renamed the Royal Estates Theater.
Theater interior
The Hall of the Estates Theater in Prague accommodates 659 spectators. The interior of the building is decorated with pilasters of brown marble, the floor in the foyer and the lobby are lined with white marble. The ceiling above the stage is painted with geometric patterns in the Pompeian style. In the lobby there are busts and portraits of famous artists. On the main facade of the building is written a theatrical motto: "Patriae et Musis", which means "Motherland and Muses".
Stages
Estates Theater in Prague gained fame thanks to many famous creative people who performed here:
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart personally conducted the premiere of his operas "Don Juan" and "Mercy of Titus", which were held here with great success. And now this is the only theater in the world that has survived in its original form, Mozart performed on the stage.
- In 1834, the play "Fidlovachka" was played in the theater, in which the song "Where is my homeland" by Frantisek Shkrup sounded. The performance itself did not have much success, but the audience liked the song so much that later it became the national anthem of the Czech Republic.
- In different years on the stage of the theater were such celebrities as Nicolo Paganini, Angelica Catalani, music director here was Karl Maria Weber, and behind the conductor's panel were Gustav Mahler, Karl Goldmark, Arthur Rubinstein.
- Milos Forman took the key scenes of the movie "Amadeus" at the Estates Theater, which subsequently received the gold statuette of the Oscar eight times.
Modern theater life
Now every theatrical season in the Estates Theater begins with Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. Here, dramas, operas and ballet performances are staged. Karl Capek's "Macro Band Means", starring the famous opera singer Sonia Cherven, is another of many successful staging performances on the stage of the Estates Theater.
If desired, visitors can go with a tour of the theater: learn theatrical legends, stories and secrets, view the magnificent scene and backstage, salons and the imperial box. Such a theatrical tour ends with a concert in Mozart's musical salon.
How to get to the Estates Theater?
To see the landmark , you can take the metro Můstek (here lines A and B lead). If you decide to go by tram, then on routes Nos. 3, 9, 14, 24 you need to get to the stop Václavské náměstí.