<State opera can be repaired, the UOHS rejected the complaint>

Prague - The National Theatre today signed a contract with representatives of the company Hochtief for the reconstruction of the State Opera Prague. CTK was informed by theatre spokesman Tomáš Staněk. The company won the tender with the lowest bid of 857.6 million crowns. The Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) on Friday rejected a proposal for a preliminary injunction submitted by the unsuccessful consortium Opera 2016 in the tender. "The National Theatre will hand over the site to Hochtief within days so that the reconstruction can begin without delay," the spokesman stated.

"I can confirm that ÚOHS rejected the proposal for a preliminary injunction last week. The first-instance proceedings in the matter are still ongoing, and the authority has not yet been informed by the contracting authority about the conclusion of the contract," said ÚOHS spokesman Martin Švanda today.

The buildings of the State Opera have been closed for more than half a year; according to the original plans, construction was supposed to start last autumn. The renovation, according to previous plans, is expected to last 27 months. The program for this and next season is being held at alternative venues.

"I am glad that we are starting the reconstruction at a time when the operations of the State Opera are secured at the Music Theatre Karlín as well as at other stages of the National Theatre. (...) We are looking forward to the new building and are already thinking about its program," said the director of the National Theatre Jan Burian.

"The last major reconstruction of the State Opera took place in the 1970s, and the current condition of the building and its equipment reflects that," said the chairman of the board of Hochtief Tomáš Bílek. The company has previously renovated the memorial at Vítkov in Prague, the Broumov Monastery, and the baroque hospital in Kuks, which was awarded in the Building of the Year competition in its category last year.

ÚOHS initiated administrative proceedings at the proposal of the consortium Society Opera 2016 led by Metrostav, which was unsuccessful in the competition. Along with Metrostav, companies such as Průmstav, Geosan Group, and PSJ also approached ÚOHS.

The winner of the tender was chosen by the National Theatre just before last Christmas based on the recommendations of a government-appointed evaluation committee. "The evaluation of the public procurement was carried out in accordance with all legal requirements and within optimal time frames. All applicants for this public procurement met the qualification criteria, and no one was excluded from the competition," Staněk stated earlier.

The reconstruction of the opera has been discussed for years. The price that the state is to pay for it has been rising. When the competition was announced last February, it was estimated at approximately one billion crowns. Three applicants were still able to offer below that sum, while three others exceeded it. Among them was the company Opera 2016. The financing of the general reconstruction is provided by the program Care for the National Cultural Heritage.

The reconstruction of the building, which has undergone significant modifications most recently in the 1970s, should not exceed 27 months. The entire opera building will undergo reconstruction, including its facilities located in the premises of the former Federal Assembly and the surrounding outdoor areas. The auditorium will receive new seats, the stage technology will be new, and a turntable under the stage will be installed. The half-ton chandelier will also be modified. A significant part of the repairs will include restoration work.