Description from Rudolfinum - Dvořákova síň

The Rudolfinum is one of the most beautiful constructions of Czech architecture of the end of last century which houses Prague's most sought after concert hall which opened in 1885. The concert hall is named after Antonín Dvořák who worked in the Rudolfinum as a professor of the Conservatory and a conductor. The Rudolfinum was designed in Neo-Renaissance style as a centre for concert performances and exhibitions by architects Josef Zítek and Josef Schulz, both professors at the Prague Polytechnic. The palace was named Rudolfinum to honour the Austrian crown prince but generally its name is connected with the art-loving emperor Rudolph II whose seat was at the Prague Castle. The original organ from 1884 built by the renown German firm Wilhelm Sauer had worked without substantial changes until the end of the First World War. After the Parliament had moved into Rudolfinum the organ was donated to the Brno Conservatory. The current organ is from 1975 and was built by the firm Rieger-Kloss from Krnov, the author of its design and its spiritual father is Dr. Jiří Reinberger. The recent history of the Rudolfinum is connected first and foremost with the concert activities of the Czech Philharmonic.