Estates Theater

Estate theatre (Stavovske divadlo) in Prague is one of the most beautiful theatres in Europe built in Classicist style and since its foundation it has stayed practically unchanged. It can be proud of the fact that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart introduced here his opera Don Giovanni for the first time.

Estate Theatre has changed its name many times as well as the owners. The founder of this theatre was very powerful man Count Nostic-Rienek who wanted to create a great theatre in opposition to Vienna Theatre. First play – civic tragedy Emailia Galotti by Lessing – was performed in Estates Theatre on 21 April 1783. Even though it was a Czech theatre, plays were performed in German language. First real play in Czech language was Vaclav Tham’s Bretislav a Jitka in 1786.

The date 29th October 1787 is a special date for Prague Estate Theatre. Mozart conducted here the world’s premiere of his opera Don Giovanni that had been partly composed in Prague. This great event is commemorated by a memorial plaque. Another premiere of Mozart’s opera, La Clemenza di Tito, was played here on the occasion of Leopold II.coronation.

Photo 815, Sept 2008