| Prague National & State Opera www.nationaltheatre.cz |
The music of Bohemia can have no finer home than the city of Prague in the Czech Republic. Classical music in Prague has a rich tradition of classical music and its particular history makes it the spritual home of the composers
1824 - 1884. Bedrich Smetana
1841 - 1904 Antonin Dvorak
1854 - 1928 Leos Janacek
The are two main venues for classical opera and ballet in Prague, the Prague State Opera and the National Theatre, Prague.
Classical music concerts are also held at Dvorak Hall, the Smetana Hall and the Vila Bertramka which is also the home of the Mozart Museum.
The Estates Theatre (1783) is also an important venue for Mozart operas, ballet and drama in Prague.
Most State Opera performances are from the Italian repertoire - Donizetti, Rossini, Verdi and Puccini - with the occasional inclusion of Russian, German and French oeuvres each season. The lavishly decorated neo-rococo building was opened on 5th January 1888 as the German Theatre, but changed its name to the Smetana Theatre after World War II, before finally becoming the Prague State Opera House. The venue is extremely popular and advance booking is often essential.
Wilsonova 4, Nove Mesto.
Tel. Státní opera Praha 0800 135 784
www.opera.cz;
The National Theatre is built in a neo-renaissance style and decorated with remarkable paintings and sculptures which are jewels of Czech achievement. The theatre offers three different genres of art: opera, ballet and theatre. but it's repertoire is mainly classical opera; with sixty performances per year.
The theatre was founded in 1881 after collecting the necessary funding needed for building a large theatre - the theatre was intended to be a symbol of The Czech nation's independence and its language. In the same year the theatre was destroyed by a fire and after two years of expensive reconstruction; made by the architect J.Schulz, it was re-opened with a premiere of "Libuse" by the Czech composer Smetana. The National Theatre is one of the most important Czech cultural institutions, with a rich artistic tradition.
Tel. Národní divadlo 224 97 34 37
Narodni 2, Nove Mesto.
The Rudolfinum offers a varied programme of classical music and a changing exhibition programme. The Rudolfinum is one of the most famous concert halls in Prague - it is the second most important neo-renaissance building after the National Theatre, Prague and is the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra who play regular concerts in the large Dvorák Hall, while solo vocal and instrumental performances can be heard in the smaller Suk Hall.
Tel 227 059 352
namesti Jana Palacha 1, Stare Mesto
www.rudolfinum.cz
Located in the Municipal House, this is the home of the Prague Symphony Orchestra
Tel 222 002 101
namesti Republiky 5, Prague 1
The Prague Symphony Orchestra also perform regular concerts in the salon and garden of the Vila Bertramka which is the home of the Mozart Museum.
Tel 257 317 465
Mozartova 169, Prague 5,
Is also a very important venue for opera, ballet and drama performances in Prague. Opened in 1783 as the Nostic Theatre, the Estates theatre is one of the most beautiful historical theatres in Europe. Here, most often Mozart operas are presented, although other composer's works can be enjoyed here. It is here that in 1834, the song "Kde domov muj" (Where is my home), which later became the Czech national anthem was presented on the stage for the first time. Today drama and ballet, as well as opera are performed here.
Tel Stavovské divadlo; 224 215 001
Ovocny trh 1, Prague 1
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