Estates Theatre, Opera house in Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic
The Estates Theatre is a Neoclassical opera house and theatre building in central Old Town, hosting opera, ballet, and drama throughout the year. The auditorium rises through several tiers with gilded decoration and red velvet seating, while the stage sits behind a traditional curtain.
Count Franz Anton von Nostitz-Rieneck had Anton Haffenecker build the theatre in 1781–1783; it opened on 21 April 1783 with Lessing's Emilia Galotti. In 1798 the Bohemian Estates purchased it, giving it the name Estates Theatre. From 1862 it served a German ensemble, was taken from it in 1920, and was annexed to the National Theatre in 1948.
The theatre's name comes from the Bohemian Estates, who bought it in 1798 and gave it the name Royal Theatre of the Estates. Czech-language plays were staged here from 1785, and in 1834 the song "Kde domov můj" premiered, later becoming the Czech national anthem. The motto PATRIAE ET MUSIS is inscribed above the portal.
The house offers guided tours in several languages that let visitors explore the auditorium and side rooms. Most performances take place in the evening, so a daytime tour works well for seeing the interiors.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart conducted the premiere of his opera Don Giovanni here in October 1787, bringing the house worldwide recognition. Since 2000, a statue of the Commendatore from that opera stands at the entrance, created by Anna Chromy.
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