Prague State Opera
Well it may come as a shock but this place specialises in Opera (but does squeeze in a ballet or two) and below you’ll find some of the popular performances here. Check the schedule for up to date info. All the ones on this page will have English captions. Some like La Traviata only have Czech here (there’s an English subtitle version at the National Theatre). Before it was called the Prague State Opera it was known as the “New German Theatre” built after the National Theatre in Prague and styled on the Vienna State Opera.
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Prague State Opera DRESS CODE:
The Prague State Opera House encourages people to dress smartly. For “first night” performances this would stretch to black-tie if you have it or at least a jacket and tie. Other dates usually require only a jacket for men. They don’t promise to kick you out if you turn up in jeans and trainers but I’ve seen them refuse ticket sale to people at the door dressed as such. So in general, no jeans, no trainers, no loud shirts (that includes the “Prague-Czech-Me-Out” T-shirt as well :-()
Performance – Madame Butterfly
The timeless story of a Japanese Geisha. Premiered at the Prague State Opera on March 7th 1985. Performed in Italian with English subtitles. It has an historical link with Czechoslovakia as when Madame Butterfly was premiered in London’s Covent Garden Theatre in 1905, Czech opera singer Ema Destinnova played Cio-Cio-San. 2 hours 35 minutes
Performance – Carmen
Georges Bizets classic Spanish tragedy. Premiered at the Prague State Opera on March 7th 2004. Performed in French with English subtitles. During the season you’ll find the production rotates between the Prague State Opera and the National Theatre. 2 hours 55 minutes (with intermission).
Performance – Barber of Seville
Premiered at the Prague State Opera on September 29th 2005 but will be 200 years old come 2016. Performed in Italian with English subtitles. Just to prove that Opera is not all tragedy and suffering, Rossini’s Barber of Seville brings the comic aspect of the life of Figaro and his beloved Rosina. It’s fun. 3 hours (with intermission)
Performance – Tosca
Premiered at the Prague State Opera on July 7th 1999. Performed in Italian with English subtitles. One of the most popular operas ever. Puccini does what he does best i.e. love, jealousy and war. 2 hours 45 minutes (with two intermissions).
Performance – The Magic Flute
Premiered at the Prague State Opera on October 20th 1995. Performed in German with English subtitles. The State Opera and the National Theatre normally share The Magic Flute whilst Mozart’s Don Giovanni is hosted exclusively at the Estates Theatre. The Magic Flute was originally written for the Vienna State Opera and aimed at the lower classes of the time. It is part comic and part fairytale but the continuing theme is of order over chaos and maintaining high moral standing. 2 hours 35 minutes (with intermission)
So I could keep going, Il Trovatore, Otello, Rigoletto, Romeo and Juliet, La Boheme, Turandot, Rusalka, Nabucco etc just follow the schedule below and check performances on during your stay.
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