One of the symbols of Prague and the Czech national revival. The main theater of the country, in which, along with musical performances, dramatic works are also staged. The construction of the theater is the result of the national revival of the Czech people, which was very vigorously expressed at the end of the 19th century in the general rise of national consciousness and a return to the origins of Czech folk culture.
History of creation
In the 70s of the 19th century, a special group was created to oversee the construction of the country's National Theater. It was headed by Jan Harrach, a philanthropist and an active public figure. The project was prepared by the architect Josef Zítek, who decided to erect the building in the neo-Renaissance style. The best painters and sculptors of the country took part in the design of the theater: Vaclav Brozik, Josef Vaclav Mylbek, Mikolash Alesh and others. For the construction, it was decided to use only local materials and attract local workers. On May 16, 1868, the cornerstone was solemnly laid, or rather the stones that were brought from all the sacred places of Bohemia. Together with the stones, they laid the earth from the Plavsky tumulus - a pre-Christian burial ground in Bohemia.
The theater was opened in 1881 with the premiere of B. Smetana's opera Libuše. However, a fire soon broke out. He destroyed part of the auditorium, stage and copper dome. The people perceived this as a national tragedy. People donated money to restore the theater, and a serious amount was raised in record time. Half of the city's residents have contributed to the restoration of the theater. After renovation, the theater reopened with the same Smetana opera in 1883.
Theater interior
The main facade of the theater is decorated with an attic with the figure of the god Apollo, muses and chariots. The theater inside is extremely luxuriously decorated. The ceiling of the main foyer is decorated with a triptych “the golden age, decline and resurrection of art. Here and in other rooms of the theater, not only portraits, but also busts of artists related to the theater are placed. The auditorium for 996 seats is designed in such a way that excellent audibility remains in all rows and even the uppermost tiers. A huge chandelier with 260 lamps weighing 2 tons is located above the parterre. An old organ is installed on the stage, and above it is the inscription "The people - to themselves", glorifying the dedication and sacrifice of the Czech people. The same theme can be traced in the image on the stage curtain.
On the ceiling in the hall there are images of the "Allegory of Art", which in female images represent 8 of its types: Painting, Architecture, Sculpture, Lyrics, Music, Dance, Mimicry and Ethics. This is the work of the famous Czech artist František Zhenisek. Unlike other theaters, in this one the Imperial and Primatorial Lodges are not located in the center. According to the builders, the best places should be available to those who finance the theater and contribute to its prosperity - that is, the people.
[leveltravel country = ”CZ” city = ”Prague”]
Working hours
The theater ticket offices are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. In addition, tickets for performances at the National Theater can be bought at the box office of other city theaters or booked online. Pre-sale and booking starts 5 months before the show. The cost of tickets (from 120 to 1100 CZK) will depend on the performance and the seat chosen. In addition, the theater offers guided tours in different languages. Only this must be agreed in advance by calling +420 224 901 506. The cost of the excursion is 200 CZK. It lasts approximately one hour.
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How to get there
You can get to the theater by tram number 6, 8, 18, 22. The stop is called Narodni divadlo.
