Lear
Premiere performances: 7 and 12 June 2025 at the State Opera
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Saturday 7. 6.
19:00
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Tuesday 17. 6.
19:00
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Basic information
The State Opera
LanguageIn German, surtitles in Czech, English
PremiereJune 7, 2025
Operas based on William Shakespeare’s plays constitute a remarkable special chapter in the history of music theatre, and the peerless tragedy King Lear is one of those composers have reached for many times.
Cast
- 2024-2025
Creatives
About
National Theatre Chorus
National Theatre Orchestra
National Theatre Opera Ballet
Yet, oddly enough, none of the operatic settings has become a repertoire staple, unlike, for instance, Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette or Guiseppe Verdi’s Otello. It may be down to the fact that none of the composers who have tackled the subject have been of Verdi’s calibre (although Verdi always intended to adapt King Lear).
There is, however, a modern-day opera inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy, a work dating from the final quarter of the 20th century, that met with immense acclaim and has been staged at the world’s most prestigious opera houses – Lear, created by the German composer Aribert Reimann (b. 1936). Among his ten stage works are pieces based on Franz Kafka’s novel The Castle and August Strindberg’s play The Ghost Sonata, yet the best-known and most popular is his fourth opera, after Shakespeare’s King Lear. Written in 1978 to commission for the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, the subject was suggested by the illustrious baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who would portray the title role. Reimann did not set King Lear in its entirety and verbatim, replacing that which he omitted with a forcible, now and then harsh or, contrariwise, very moving music, clearly pursuing the trail blazed by the German Expressionists.
The parable about foolish human pride, the delusion of self-importance, the danger of rejection, as well as acceptance of responsibility and decay of a seemingly stable world, cannot perhaps be more poignantly wrought than in Reimann’s opera.
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Practical information
Where to buy tickets
The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in October 2024 – March 2025.
When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.
What to wear?
By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.
Parking at the State opera
While visiting the State Opera, you can take the slip road on Wilsonova street from the left lane close to the State Opera building to the Parking Centrum above-ground garage. The parking fee is 60 CZK/h.
Buffets at the State Opera
No waiting. For your benefit, please pre-order your food and beverages at the bar to minimize waiting in the queue!
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