Reconstruction of the State Opera for 665 million crowns will begin in 2016

source: narodni-divadlo.cz

Prague - The reconstruction of the State Opera building in Prague is set to begin on July 1, 2016, with 665 million crowns allocated for repairs to the operational building and the main building. Construction work is expected to be completed in 2018. During the repairs, the number of performances will most likely be reduced. This was announced to journalists today by Minister of Culture Daniel Herman.
    "Based on a personal inspection of the State Opera buildings, I can state that the condition is very unsatisfactory, the vast majority of the facilities are already past their usable life. Considerable wear on the construction, technological, and operational units degrades such a gem, especially the historic building, which is undoubtedly a cultural monument,” said Herman, adding that he decided to include the reconstruction of the State Opera in the national heritage care program.
    According to ND director Jan Burian, the biggest issues with the old building are the utilities - especially the electrical installations, water, heating, and sanitation. Moisture remediation is also necessary. Restoration work will also take place on the interior decoration of the auditorium area. The glass façade of the adjacent operational building will also undergo reconstruction. The theatre will renovate the artists' dressing rooms and social facilities. "We need to professionally assess the roof envelope; we are considering insulation,” noted the operational-technical director of ND, Václav Pelouch.
    Last year and the year before, the State Opera modernized its lighting system and sound equipment. "Now we are facing construction modifications that cannot occur during regular operations,” said Burian, who, together with the director of the Opera, Silvie Hroncová, is looking for operational solutions for the duration of the theatre building's closure. "The last reconstruction of the State Opera building took place from 1967 to 1973. After forty years of daily operations, repairs are unavoidable. Most likely, there will be a reduction in the number of performances at the State Opera during the reconstruction,” stated Hroncová.
    The Ministry of Culture announced two years ago that the reconstruction of the historic building would cost a total of 360 million crowns by 2017, 110 million crowns more than previously announced. The originally considered amount of 250 million crowns reportedly did not cover all parts of the building and the restoration of technical equipment. Now the figure has risen to 665 million crowns by 2018.
    The government decided to increase funding for the former State Opera Prague, which has been part of the National Theatre since January 1, 2012. The doubling of the original amount for the reconstruction is related to an increase in the Ministry of Culture's budget by 2.3 billion crowns to nearly 11 billion crowns.