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THE JOSEF KAJETÁN TYL THEATRE IN PLZEŇ

There is a long tradition of the Czech professional theatre in Plzeň, which ranks second only to Prague in this respect. A rezident theatre was established in 1865, while the first opera stage in Plzeň dates back to 1868.

A RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS

Today the theatre is still the most important cultural landmark not only for Plzeň, but for the entire surrounding region. The fact that it is also one of the best-visited theatres bears tribute both to its high artistic level and the variety of genres on offer. Every year the Tyl Theatre produces 17 - 18 performances of plays, operas, ballets, operettas and musicals at both the Grand and Chamber theatres as well as in the Club Theatre.

Expressed in graphic form, the number of visitors over the past years shows a continuous upward curve. Last year almost 200.000 people visited the theatre (194.284 to be precise). One feature unique to Plzeň is its carefully planned advance booking system, which boasts a total number of subscribers which other theatres can only dream of.

THE THEATRE BUILDING ITSELF - AN ARCHITECTURAL JEWEL

All opera performances are staged in a splendid building which dates from 1902. It was designed by the well-known Czech architect Antonín Balšánek (who also designed the Municipal Hall and City Museum in Prague). The Grand Theatre, which houses numerous works of art, is one of the city´s architectural jewels. The Opera and Drama group of sculptures on the facade are the work of sculptor Ladislav Šaloun (author of the Hus Monument on the Old Town Square in Prague), the magnificently decorated curtain, designed by Augustin Němejc, dates from 1901. Between 1980 - 1986 the entire building underwent extensive reconstruction.

FAMOUS GUESTS FROM THE WORLD OF OPERA

From the very beginning the theatre has had a tradition of guest performances by the famous. For instance, one honourable member of the Plzeň theatre was the most famous Czech soprano of all time, Ema Destinová, who was a guest here in the 1920s. For the benefit of present-day audiences, it is worth recalling e.g. performances by Peter Dvorský and Leo Marian Vodička.

A performance of Verdi´s Masked Ball in September 1991 saw the reappearance on the conductor´s podium of Walter Ducloux, who first came to Plzeň in 1945 as a lieutenant of the US Army. This by now well-known conductor, an assistant to the famous Arturo Toscanini, returned to Plzeň after his demobilisation. He made his mark on the history of the Plzeň theatre by preparing and directing several operas, including Beethoven´s Fidelio (1946) and Verdi´s Mackbeth (1947).

PLZEŇ OPERA PERFORMERS ON WORLD STAGES

Proof that Tyl Theatre has always been a source of talent is the ever-growing list of great performers who have moved on from Plzeň to tread the boards of leading theatres in Prague, especially the National Theatre. The contemporary world-famous conductor Jiří Kout and famous mezzo-soprano Dagmar Pecková both performed in Plzeň. Soprano Eva Urbanová, who has recently received acclaim on the world´s most prestigious opera stage at La Scala in Milan, originally made her debut in Plzeň.

PLZEŇ OPERA ABROAD

A new feature of the past years are the relatively frequent performances by Tyl Theatre groups abroad. The opera has visited Germany (Passau, Bayreuth, Weiden, Balingen, Marktoberdorf, Fulda, Schwedt) and Switzerland (Winterthur, Zug, Schaffhausen, Basel, Chur, Vevey and Sursee).

The Plzeň performance of Don Giovanni was the first foreign production to be included in the renowned Musica Bayreuth Festival.

In 1999, the J. K. Tyl Theatre and its baroque opera Dido and Aeneas were warded the Prize of Alfred Radok for the best staging of the year 1998 in the Czech Republic. The artistic director J. A. Pitínský and the scene designer Tomáš Rusín were also awarded.

The opera ensemble performed also in the years 2003 and 2005 in Japan (with Carmen, Madama Butterfly, The Bartered Bride, La Traviata, The Cunning Little Vixen, Il Trovatore).

THE PLZEŇ THEATRE AS A PLACE FOR MEETING POLITICIANS FROM HOME AND ABROAD

Since 1993 the Tyl Theatre has been a regular venue for the autumn International Theatre Festival, which brings to the city not only a number of foreign theatre companies (including some from overseas), but also many well-known personalities from cultural and political life. President Václav Havel has visited the theatre twice on the occasion of this festival. On the second occasion there was also an open discussion with world-famous playwrights Arthur Miller, Ronald Harwood and Tom Stoppard.

Government ministers Jan Stráský, Jan Kalvoda and Jan Ruml expressed their recognition and support for the Tyl Theatre by their appearances on the occasion of the theatre´s 130th anniversary. Guests on other occasion have included Václav Klaus and Milan Knížák.

In 1990, during the May Celebration of Freedom, US ambassador Shirley Temple-Black visited the theatre, being escorted by Václav Havel and his wife Olga. In 1995 there was a visit by the current US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

THE KEY ROLE OF THE THEATRE IN THE REGION

The theatre has participated in most of the cultural projects in the region such as Days of Smetana or the annual Big Band Festival, Plzeň Celebration of Freedom with regular appearances by the US Army orchestra or joint projects with the twin towns of Takasaki, Regensburg, Limoges and Winterthur or with the Foundation for Bone Marrow Transplants.

Quite justifiably, the theatre receives extensive coverage in the mass media, often being mentioned in a number of regular broadcasting slots. Up-to-date reports in the press as well as on radio and TV (both state and commercial channels) provide information on premiere performances and all other events of significance to the theatre.