Mahen Theatre

The Mahen Theatre ( Divadlo Mahenovo ) in Brno / Bruenn is held in the historicist style of theater architects Fellner und Helmer.

History

The theater was in the wake of the 1861-1863 conducted softening of Brno and the construction of a ring road on the fruit market (now Malinovsky Square) built on the Viennese model. It was said in the episode Deutsches Stadttheater ( until 1918 and during the Protectorate ), Theatre on the hills ( 1918-1945 ), Janáček Opera ( 1945-1946 ), Janáček Theatre ( 1946-1965 ) and today Mahen Theatre (since 1965).

Mayor Gustav Winter Holler was the driving force behind the cultural prestige project. After awarding the contract to the famous Viennese theater architects Ferdinand Fellner jun. and Hermann Helmer [note 1], 1878, has begun construction on 18 July 1881 the opening on October 30, 1882 crowned the performance of Goethe's Egmont.

The rich sculptural decoration of the theater building is the work of the Viennese Theodor Friedl (1842-1900), who worked regularly with Fellner and Helmer. For the steps of the main staircase was marble - the most beautiful Stefano stone - used for the stairs from the ground floor to the 1st floor was chosen emperor hard stone out of the house break in Kaisersteinbruch, for the gallery stairs Brünnlitzer stone. The Viennese sculptor Franz Schönthaler (1821-1904) created the character group of Attica from Breitenbrunner sculptor stone. The allegorical ceiling painting of the auditorium are from Julius Schmid (1854-1935) from Vienna and Olga Fialková (1848-1930), the curtain was designed by Franz Lefler ( 1831-1898 ).

The Municipal Theatre in Brno was the first theater after the result of the Ringtheater Brands (1881 ) increased safety built detached. It was therefore the first fully electrically illuminated theater on the European continent. For lighting a steam power plant was in Offermann Street, now Vlhká - road, built after 1882 the assistant of Thomas Alva Edison, Francis Jehl, had come to Brno to configure the electric lighting of the theater and install.

1971-1978 the building, which had existed up to then still essentially in its original form and with its original technical equipment, a conservation practice has undergone total renovation. Parts of the architecture and decoration have been restored, and missing details with copies of preserved original fragments. A new interior furnishings designed by the Brno architect Jindrich Kumpost jun., Includes a lighting fixture, buffet counter, cabinets, chairs, speakers, and the lining of the radiators.

In 1987 came the opening of the Divadélko Na Hradbách ( Theatre on the hills ). This room with a small auditorium is located under the stage of the Mahen Theatre and serves as a one-man stage and as a place other smaller cultural events.

Artistically began among others Jeritza and Leo Slezak her career at this theater.