Prague, National Theatre at
night
The
Národní Divadlo or the National
Theatre in Prague
is known as
the Alma Mater of Czech
opera, and as the national
monument of Czech
history and art.
The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural
institutions, with a rich artistic tradition which was created and
maintained by the most distinguished personalities in Czech
society. This tradition helped to preserve and develop the most
important features of the nation – the
Czech language and a sense for a Czech
musical and dramatic way of thinking.
Today the
National Theatre consists of three artistic ensembles – opera, ballet and drama – which alternate in their performances in the
historic building of the National Theatre, in the Theatre of the
Estates
and in the Kolowrat
Theatre. All three artistic ensembles select their
repertoire not only from the rich
classical heritage, but in
addition to local authors they focus their attention on modern
world output.
Initial design and construction, 1844 to 1881
The National Theatre is the embodiment of the will of the Czech
nation for its national identity and independence. Collections of
money among the broad masses of the people facilitated its
construction, and so the ceremonious laying of the foundation stone
on May 16, 1868, was tantamount to an all-state political
demonstration.
But the idea of building a dignified edifice to serve as a
theatre matured in the autumn of 1844 at the
gatherings of patriots in Prague and began to be implemented by an
application submitted by
František Palacký to the
Provincial Committee of the Czech Assembly on January 29, 1845,
having requested "the privilege of constructing, furnishing,
maintaining and managing" of an independent Czech theatre. The
privilege was granted in April 1845. But it was not until six years
later – in April 1851 – that the founding Society for the
Establishment of a Czech National Theatre in Prague made the first
public appeal to start a collection.
A year later the
proceeds went toward the purchase of land belonging to a former
salt works covering an area of not quite 28 acres (11 ha) which determined the
magnificent site of the theatre on the banks of the river Vltava facing the panorama of Prague Castle
, but at the same time the cramped area and trapezium shape posed challenging problems for the
designers of the building.
The era of
Bach absolutism
brought to a halt preparations for the envisaged theatre and
supported the concept of a modest provisional building, which was
erected on the south side of the theatre parcel by architect
Ignac Ullmann and opened on November
18, 1862. The building of the
Provisional Theatre then became a
constituent part of the final version of the National Theatre; its
outside cladding is visible to this day in the elevated section of
the rear part of the building, and the interior layout was only
obliterated following the latest reconstruction of the National
Theatre in 1977 - 1983. Simultaneously with the realization of this
minimal programme asserted by
F.L.
Rieger and the Provincial Committee, the
young progressive advocates of the original ambitious concept of
the building (Sladkovský, Tyrš,
Neruda,
Hálek) launched an offensive. In 1865 these men attained leading
positions in the Society and requested the 33-year old professor of
civil engineering at the
Prague
Technical College, architect
Josef
Zítek, to draft a design for the National Theatre. He then came
out on top in a later-declared open competition, and in 1867
construction work began. On May 16, 1868, the foundation stone was
laid, and in November the foundations were completed. In 1875 the
new building reached its full height and in 1877 the theatre was
roofed over. As of 1873 there was an ongoing competition for the
interior decoration of the building, the scenario of which had been
elaborated by a special commission under the leadership of
Sladkovský. On the one hand, the themes were in the spirit of the
Neo-Renaissance concept of a classic
building. On the other hand, they were inspired by the current
enthusiasm for
Slavonic mythology
and the stories of the Manuscripts; both of these concepts were
based on
Josef Mánes' paintings and
connected with the contemporary style of romantic landscape
painting (also linked to Czech history). They provided the
fundamental ideology guiding artistic expression, which today is
described as the art of the generation of the National
Theatre.
The theatre includes a triga (a three-horse
quadriga) and 10 exterior allegorical sculptures by
Bohuslav Schnirch, 10 more
exterior pieces by
Antonín
Wagner, the stone pieces by
Max
Verich and an interior sculpted pediment group over the
proscenium arch by Schnirch.
Grand opening
The National Theatre was opened for the first time on June 11,
1881, to honour the visit of
Crown Prince Rudolf of
Austria. Another 11 performances were presented after that.
Then the theatre was closed down to enable the completion of the
finishing touches. While this work was under way a fire broke out
on August 12, 1881, which destroyed the copper dome, the auditorium
and the stage of the theatre.
The fire was seen as a national catastrophe and was met with a
mighty wave of determination to take up a new collection: Within 47
days a million
guldens were collected. This
national enthusiasm, however, did not correspond to the
behind-the-scenes battles that flared up following the catastrophe.
Architect Josef Zítek was no longer in the running, and his pupil
architect
Josef Schulz was summoned to
work on the reconstruction. He was the one to assert the expansion
of the edifice to include the block of flats belonging to Dr. Polák
that was situated behind the building of the Provisional Theatre.
He made this building a part of the National Theatre and
simultaneously changed somewhat the area of the auditorium to
improve visibility. He did, however, take into account with utmost
sensitivity the style of Zítek’s design, and so he managed to merge
three buildings by various architects to form an absolute unity of
style.
Reconstruction and reopening, 1883 to 1977
Laterna magika
The interior artwork was done by
Mikoláš Aleš and
František Ženíšek. The
building of the National Theatre was inaugurated on November 18,
1883, with a performance of
Smetana’s festive opera
Libuše, composed for
this occasion. The building, with perfect technical equipment
(electric illumination, a steel-constructed stage), served without
any extensive modifications for almost one hundred years. It was
only on April 1, 1977, following a performance of the
Lantern by
Jirásek, that
the theatre was closed down for six years.
Additional reconstruction, 1977 to 1983 and after
Architect Zdeněk Vávra was appointed to take charge of the overall
reconstruction work. This extensive project was combined with the
completion of work on the entire setting of the theatre. The work
was completed to meet an important deadline, which was the date of
the 100th anniversary of the opening of the National Theatre:
November 18, 1983. On that day the theatre was handed over to the
public again with a performance of Smetana’s
Libuše.
Nowadays this historic, extremely prestigious and beautiful
building, together with the annex of a modern office building that
also includes the main box office, represents the main stage of the
three artistic ensembles of the National Theatre: the drama, opera
and ballet.
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