Divadlo v Kotcích explained

The Divadlo v Kotcích, German Theater an der Kotzen, in English more usually Kotzen Theatre, was a Prague theatre and opera venue on v Kotcích street, which had its heyday from 1739 to 1783 as the second public opera theatre in Prague.^[1] Spoken plays and ballets were also presented there.

For many seasons it was run by ttalian impresario Santo Lapis, then Giovanni Battista Locatelli, who staged Gluck's Prague Ezio, 1750, and other works.^[2] Later impresarios who worked there include Gaetano Molinari and Giuseppe Bustelli. The more correct "Theater an der Kotzen" was often colloquially referred to as the "Kotzentheater," Kotzen being a Slavonic-German term for a market.^[3] It closed in 1783 for safety reasons.^[4]

It was preceded by the opera theatre of Count Franz Anton von Sporck, which operated between 1724 and 1735, and succeeded by Count Nostitz's "National Theatre," now the Estates Theatre (or "Stavovské divadlo"), which opened on 21 April 1783. The current National Theatre, "Národní divadlo" did not open until 1881.

Notes and References

1. Contrary to a widespread misconception, the opera theatre of Count Franz Anton von Sporck was not a private theatre, but a public theatre, as documented in Daniel E. Freeman - The opera theater of Count Franz Anton von Sporck in Prague - 1992.
2. http://www.ceskyhudebnislovnik.cz/slovnik/index.php?option=com_mdictionary&action=record_detail&id=572 History of performances in Czech
3. The opera theater of Count Franz Anton von Sporck in Prague - Page 72 Daniel E. Freeman - 1992 "Already by 1737 there were firm plans to construct a new permanent theater in the Old City of Prague in the "Kotzen," which at that time meant a market or bazaar.85"
4. Opera v Praze Alexandr Buchner - 1985 "It was reconstructed from the old market hall. Its first director was Santo Lapis, impresario of the Italian operatic society. The V Kotcích Theatre was discontinued in 1783 for safety reasons."