Smetanova síň, Concert hall in Municipal House, Prague, Czech Republic
Smetana Hall is a 1,200-seat Art Nouveau concert hall on the first floor of Prague's Municipal House, occupying nearly the entire central wing up to the roof. Its oblong plan has rounded short ends, with the main balcony above the entrance from Republic Square and the stage and organ opposite. Shallow segmental recesses along the long walls hold boxes, balconies and upper galleries known as "shells"; a large elliptical window sits at the centre of the vaulted ceiling.
The hall was built as part of the Municipal House completed in 1912 and quickly became the stage for significant national moments. In 1918, a key political announcement proclaiming Czechoslovak independence took place within its walls.
The hall is named after composer Bedřich Smetana and serves as the home of the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK. It also hosts concerts by other orchestras and choirs, popular music events, balls and large ceremonial gatherings, including concerts of the Prague Spring festival.
The venue sits centrally in the Old Town and is easily accessible by public transportation, with its entrance directly facing Republic Square. Visitors should plan to arrive early to appreciate the interior decoration and get oriented in the space.
The ceiling and wall paintings of allegories of Music, Dance, Poetry and Drama are by Karel Špillar, not Alfons Mucha. The organ, built in 1912 by Jan Tuček of Kutná Hora, has three manuals, 72 stops and over 4,000 pipes.
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