The leadership of the ND will symbolically inaugurate the reconstruction of the State Opera in Prague

Prague - The management of the National Theatre will symbolically begin the reconstruction of the State Opera in Prague today. The repair, costing 858 million crowns, is planned for 27 months, with the firm Hochtief winning the tender for it. The program for this and next season will take place in replacement venues. However, the theatre management is already preparing the program for the reopening of the opera.

Talk of the opera's reconstruction has been ongoing for years. The price that the state will pay for it has been rising. When the tender was announced last February, it was estimated to be approximately one billion crowns. Four bidders came in under this amount in the tender, while three others exceeded it. The reconstruction is funded by the National Cultural Heritage Care program.

The last major reconstruction of the State Opera took place in the 1970s. The entire building of the opera will undergo reconstruction, including its facilities located in the premises of the former Federal Assembly, and the surrounding outdoor areas. According to the theatre management, the most in need of repair are the utilities - especially the electrical wiring, water, heating, and drainage systems. Moisture remediation is necessary. The glass façade of the adjacent service building and the façade of the historic building will also be reconstructed. The auditorium will receive new seats, and new stage technology as well as a revolving stage under the stage. The half-ton chandelier will also undergo modifications. A significant part of the repairs will involve restoration work.

Alongside the repair of the National Museum and the revitalization of the Clementinum, the repair of the State Opera is currently another major investment project in the culture sector.