Inside Prague’s Opera Houses

January 19, 2012

For the last few months Tim has been to sit at various locations around London, sketching some of our most impressive buildings for his up-and-coming book, which will be all about our capital’s most historical architecture.

During a recent trip, Tim took his pencils and paper to Prague to sketch the interiors of three of their stunning Opera Houses.

The first sketch is of the Estates Theatre, where Tim saw the last New Year’s Eve performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Designed by A.Haffenecker in the 18^th century, this neoclassical building was the first theatre to be built in the capital, and also where Mozart premiered Giovanni.

With the construction having been funded by public donations, The National Theatre first opened its doors in June 1881. However in August 1881, after only 11 performances a fire broke out which destroyed the copper dome, the auditorium and the stage. After a second wave of public determination and generosity, the theatre reopened its doors in August 1883 with a performance of Smetana’s Libuše.

The performance that Tim went to see was The Miracles of Mary by Bohuslav Martinů. He sketched throughout the performance to depict the incredibly elegant and richly decorated interior.

Prague’s State Opera opened in 1888 to critical acclaim, and was designed for the German performers who wished to have their own theatre in the capital. However, after World War II the country became a communist state, where Opera was considered elitist. The building was neglected, and it was only in 1992 that the theatre was restored to its former glory.

Tim sketched the stunning neo-Rococo interior during a performance of Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák.

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About timgosling

TIM GOSLING - DIRECTOR Tim graduated from the Central School of Art & Design in 1987 with a BA (Hons.) degree in Theatre Design. His work in theatre included creating set and stage scenes for major West end productions such as Miss Saigon and Starlight Express as well as working as a set designer for Las Vegas shows. In the late 1980s Tim joined David Linley and became a director in 1993. At Linley he was instrumental in developing the company's design style and expanding their bespoke commission over the last 18 years. In 2005 Tim set up his own company, Gosling, giving himself the freedom to design a wider range of furniture and interiors while continuing his working relationships with interior designers world-wide. The company's objective is to create a bespoke service of design and furniture that has style and longevity. His world renowned furniture designs draw inspiration from classical architecture and styles. Each commission begins with the very intimate process of working with the client to ensure the designs reflect their needs and taste. Every piece of furniture is made to the most exacting standards using the finest materials and traditional cabinet-making techniques, and each element of the interiors is addressed with the same care and attention to detail.

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