Estates Theatre

This classical-looking theatre was commissioned by Count Franz Anton Nostitz-Rieneck, who wanted a grand stage open to the public. The architect Anton Haffenecker built it between 1781 and 1783, and it opened on 21 April 1783 with Lessing's «Emilia Galotti».

1The night of Don Giovanni

Prague adored Mozart before Vienna did. «The Marriage of Figaro» was a hit here in 1786, and the impresario Pasquale Bondini commissioned a new opera for his company. The result was Don Giovanni, with a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. On 29 October 1787 Mozart himself conducted the premiere in this building. Four years later he returned with «La clemenza di Tito», written for the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia in 1791.

As far as is known, it is the only theatre still standing where Mozart conducted the premiere of one of his operas. That is why Miloš Forman filmed the theatre scenes of «Amadeus» here.

2A theatre of many names

In 1799 it was bought by the Bohemian Estates, hence its current name. It later became a German stage and, from 1920, part of the National Theatre. In 1834 it hosted the premiere of Josef Kajetán Tyl's comedy «Fidlovačka», with music by František Škroup: one of its songs, «Kde domov můj» («Where Is My Home?»), would become the Czech national anthem.

3What to look for

• The inscription PATRIAE ET MUSIS, «to the homeland and the muses», on the facade.
• The ghostly statue of the Commendatore beside the entrance, a modern tribute to Don Giovanni.
• The Carolinum opposite, seat of the university Charles IV founded in 1348.