5 years ago the Prague State Opera reopened after costly reconstruction
Built in 1888, the Prague State Opera has undergone several renovations, with the latest being the most extensive. The stage turntable and air-conditioning system were upgraded, artists received modern rehearsal rooms, and new facilities were added, including chairs with subtitling equipment and a new curtain. The reconstruction, which cost CZK 1.3 billion, took nearly three years.
The opening ceremony held five years ago was intended to be a spectacular event with the participation of European politicians. However, in the end, only Viktor Orbán joined then-Prime Minister Babiš in the box of honor.
The reprise of the concert, marking the reopening of the historic building, included the overture to Richard Wagner's opera The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, a work that was first performed here in 1888. The concert concluded with the finale of the second act of Ludwig van Beethoven's opera Fidelio, "Heil sei dem Tag."
This year, the State Opera is presenting the opera Hansel and Gretel, based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
The building, which now houses one of the four stages of the National Theatre, was constructed at the end of the 19th century by the Prague German Theatre Association. The State Opera House, now located between two streams of the North-South Main Line, is a prime example of the architecture of Viennese builders Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who also collaborated with Karl Hasenauer, the architect of the Vienna Burgtheater. The New German Theatre (Neues Deutsches Theater) opened its doors to the first spectators on 5 January 1888 and quickly earned an international reputation.
