Former deputy criticizes Brno's approach to the Philharmonic and the Opera

Brno - Former deputy mayor of Brno and councilor Daniel Rychnovský (KDU-ČSL) criticizes the current city leadership's approach to opera and theater. He is troubled by the fact that the council approved a contract for an acoustic study, which is supposed to propose modifications to the Janáček Theatre so that the Brno Philharmonic could successfully perform there as well. The theater is currently constructed as an opera house. The study will cost 650,000 crowns. The city hall has had the same document in a drawer since 2004, Rychnovský informed in a press release today. The mayor's deputy Jana Bohuňovská (ODS) defended the necessity of the new study in response to an inquiry from ČTK.
According to Rychnovský, the study was prepared by renowned firms - the British Sound Space Design and the American Performance Space Consulting. The authors of the document reportedly have experience from constructing opera and concert houses around the world. "The study clearly states that if we wanted to modify the Janáček Theatre for concert use, it would require such an intervention that it would be uneconomical. The building would lose the character that is desired for an opera house," Rychnovský stated.
Because of this, he claims that the previous leadership decided to reconstruct the Janáček Theatre for opera needs and that Brno would strive to build a concert hall for the philharmonic. The orchestra has been calling for it for 100 years. "In this sense, repairs to the stage and rigging in the Janáček Theatre have also been carried out for hundreds of millions," he said.
Bohuňovská, on the other hand, argued the age of the completed acoustic study. According to her, the document would have to be updated after eight years anyway. She also said that 650,000 crowns is not such a significant expense. In the new study, experts are supposed to focus specifically on modifications to the Janáček Theatre to meet the orchestra's needs as well. There is no money for a concert hall, the so-called Janáček Cultural Center, she added.
Rychnovský criticized the retreat from the effort to build the center. "I have concerns that Brno culture is vanishing in fireworks, overpriced Christmas decorations, clocks that don't tell time, Golden Dragons, and other superficialities. However, there is a lack of will to work long-term for the future," he stated. He rejected the argument of lack of money, saying that it is necessary to have a vision and seek its implementation even in times of crisis. He added the example of Zlín, where the Congress Center for the needs of the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic was recently completed. It cost 600 million crowns, half of the costs were covered by the European Union. The building was designed by architect Eva Jiřičná.