In the State Opera, demolition is ceasing, repairs will last for two years

Prague - In the building of the State Opera in Prague, demolition work is coming to an end, the former fuel storage rooms are being structurally secured to become rehearsal rooms, and the orchestra pit is being built larger than before. After the reconstruction, the journey of the scenery to the stage will be shortened, thus reducing wear and tear, and the acoustics will improve, which has been disturbed by noise from the highway. Out of the budget of over one billion crowns, about 130 million crowns have been spent so far. The opera is expected to be opened by the end of 2019.

The theater management today invited Minister of Culture Daniel Herman and journalists for a site inspection. He emphasized that the total government grant for the reconstruction, which includes lighting and sound equipment, construction, restoration, preparation, and operation during the reconstruction, amounts to 1.2 billion crowns. The company Hochtief CZ, which won the contract for the construction part of the reconstruction, has a contracted price of 1.037 billion including VAT. So far, it has drawn approximately 50 million crowns, the ministry stated.

The operational director of the National Theatre, Václav Pelouch, was showing the site elements in the interiors that will be removed. The aim of the reconstruction is to return the building to its original state as much as possible, he stated. The management of the National Theatre agrees with this viewpoint, which is also derived from the building's heritage protection.

The operational building, which is part of the former Federal Assembly, has also been declared a heritage site. In this case, according to Pelouch, heritage conservators want everything in the rehearsal rooms and other areas after the reconstruction to be brought back as close as possible to the time of its creation. However, the National Theatre does not want to return to the aesthetics of the 1970s. "That's all up for discussion; heritage conservators are reasonable people," Herman assured.

In the reconstructed historical building, added partitions are being removed, and sometimes spaces that were previously unknown are appearing. The rehearsal room for the orchestra and the recording studio are also being reconstructed. Restoration plans are being developed, based on conducted surveys, and colors for interiors, facades, and floors are being prepared.

The reconstruction of the opera is the first reconstruction of a large state-owned theater since 1989. The last major reconstruction of the State Opera was in the 1970s. According to the theater management, the plumbing systems—especially the electrical installation, water, heating, and waste—were in the worst condition. The auditorium will receive new seats, and new stage technology as well as a turntable below the stage. Even the half-ton chandelier will not escape modifications, which today served as a reminder in the empty hall for visitors that they are in a historic theater.