The covered stage for the Smetanova Litomyšl festival will be designed by architect Pleskot

Litomyšl – The Smetana Litomyšl Music Festival will have a new covered stage in the castle courtyard next year. The current structure is at the end of its lifespan. The new solution, which will be more like an external concert hall than just a roof, is designed by the renowned architect Josef Pleskot, organizers announced on the festival's website.

The preparation for the new stage was preceded by an archaeological survey of the courtyard, which discovered remnants of original buildings and a Baroque corridor for drainage. The castle is a national cultural monument and a UNESCO heritage site, which the design must respect. Unlike before, the audience area will be divided into two parts and inclined towards the center, where the architect has placed the staircase. The stage will also change, including the facilities for performers and technicians. The covering will mostly be retractable during concerts, also due to acoustics. For special projects, the roof can be opened about halfway, making it movable.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that the hall has maximum theatrical parameters, because we have struggled with staging operas in Litomyšl in the past due to many restrictions. We will never be a perfect theater, but we want to operate as well as possible," said festival director Michal Medek to ČTK.

The costs for the new stage with covering are estimated at 50 million. The organizers have commitments for funding from the main partner Česká spořitelna, and the Pardubice region and other entities will also contribute.

Due to the reconstruction of the Litomyšl castle, the festival is being held for the second year in the city sports hall. This year, the organizers have adjusted the acoustics of the venue where the festival is taking place, and the stage has been modified compared to last year.