Praha is probably not going to get a new concert hall anytime soon

Prague - The Czech capital is unlikely to see a new concert hall anytime soon. Politicians are aware that a modern venue for classical performances is lacking in the metropolis, but there are currently no funds for its construction, and it seems there will not be any in the foreseeable future. Experts selected several suitable locations for construction last year, but the city has not yet decided on either the site or the funding method. The new concert hall could be used in the future for the Prague Spring festival, which is held from May 12 to June 4.
Representatives of the capital city and the Association for the Construction of a New Concert Hall in Prague signed a memorandum of cooperation last May, but negotiations have not progressed since then, partly due to last autumn's municipal elections. "We are in a situation where the whole process needs to be started, where we need to accurately determine which location is feasible, and decide how the hall would be financed," said the councilor for culture and tourism, Lukáš Kaucký (ČSSD).
According to him, the most conservative budget estimates are around 2.5 billion crowns, and a decision needs to be made across the political spectrum. "The mayor is very inclined toward it; he considers it one of Prague's priorities. Unfortunately, there are several priorities in the capital, and there is a lack of financial resources," he added. He would like the hall to be completed by 2015, though he cannot estimate whether that is realistic.
The hall should have a capacity of 1,400 to 1,800 spectators, according to experts, and it should be located in an area easily accessible by public transport. The commission formed at the magistrate, according to Kaucký, has chosen locations such as the current Masaryk Station, Rohanský Island, one of the factory buildings in Karlín, or near Vítězné náměstí in Dejvice.
Two years ago, Jan Hasenöhrl, director of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, sought to build a hall in place of the Štvanice ice rink, whose wooden section began to be demolished on Saturday due to poor technical condition. However, according to CTK information, a hall will not be built there either, due to unsatisfactory conditions.
Independently of Hasenöhrl, Roman Bělor, the director of Prague Spring, is also working with the Association for the Construction of a New Concert Hall in Prague. "We have slowed down a bit; there were elections. I had the opportunity to discuss this matter twice with the new mayor, and I think he is inclined towards it," Bělor said. He expects the working group for construction at the magistrate to be revived.
The need for a larger concert hall was confirmed during the recent performance of Mahler's monumental Symphony of a Thousand at Prague's O2 Arena, where 500 performers took part. Although the large sports hall allowed four thousand spectators to experience an extraordinary performance due to professional sound, many listeners did not feel a personal connection with the musicians or a deep experience from the music, which got lost in the vast space.
A new concert hall could have been built in the capital city as early as the mid-90s, when Japanese investors wanted to donate it to the Czech Philharmonic for its centenary. However, the project fell through. The former House of Artists, now the Rudolfinum, and the Smetana Hall in the Municipal House no longer meet modern requirements as well. A modern multifunctional concert hall was recently opened in Zlín, and the opening of a concert hall shaped like a manta ray, designed by the late architect Jan Kaplický, is planned in České Budějovice for 2014.