What is Estates Theatre?
[[File:Stavovske divadlo.jpg|thumbnail|Estates Theatre]] The '''Estates Theatre''' or '''Stavovské divadlo''' in [[Prague]] is one of the oldest and most beautiful [[opera house]]s in [[Europe]]. The Estates Theatre became part of the [[National Theatre (Prague)|National Theatre]] in 1948. People from three different groups perform [[opera]], [[ballet]], and [[drama]] there. The same people also perform at the [[National Theatre, Prague|National Theatre]] (Národní divadlo), and the [[Theatre Kolowrat]] (Divadlo Kolowrat). == History == The Estates Theatre was built during the late 18th century. At first it was known as Count Nostitz’s Theatre. The theatre opened in [[1783]] with a performance of the [[tragedy]] ''[[Emilia Galotti]]'' by the [[Germany|German]] [[playwright]] [[Gotthold Ephraim Lessing|Gotthold Lessing]]. It was built in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style. Today it is one of the very few theatres that have hardly changed since it was built. Although the building is almost the same it always was, the organisation of the Estates Theatre has changed several times in its history. In [[1798]] it was called the Estates Theatre when it was bought by the Czech Estates. When the Provisional Theatre opened in [[1862]] the Estates Theatre started to put on German plays and the name was changed to the Royal Provincial German Theatre. From [[1920]] and [[1948]] it got its name (Estates Theatre) back again. In 1948 the organization became part of the National Theatre and was called Tyl Theatre (after dramatist [[Josef Kajetán Tyl|J.K. Tyl]]). In [[1990]], after some restoration, it became known again as the Estates Theatre. == Productions and artistes == Many of the greatest artists worked or had their music or plays performed in the Estates Theatre. In [[1787]] the first performance took place of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]'s opera ''Don Giovanni''. Mozart's opera ''La Clemenza di Tito'' was also staged there for the first time in celebration of the [[coronation]] of [[Emperor Leopold II