Slovak National Theater (Bratislava, Slovakia)
The Neo-Renaissance Slovak National Theater, standing at the end of the long Hviezdoslav Square, was built in 1885–1886 during the time of Austria-Hungary, based on a design by the Viennese architects Nándor Fellner and Henrik Helmer, who designed theater buildings in 10 European countries. It was opened as the City Theater on September 22, 1886 with the opera Bánk bán of Ferenc Erkel, which is one of the most important Hungarian opera. As a sign of this event's importance Kálmán Tisza, the Hungarian Prime Minister at the time, and his government took part in the ceremony. The gala performance was conducted by Ferenc Erkel himself. The original building was designed for 1000 spectators and was illuminated using 800 gas lamps. The interior was decorated, with frescos of by Pressburg (Bratislava) native painter Kornél Spányik. The City Theater was hired by German and Hungarian professional theater companies, but beginning in 1919 (at the creation of Czechoslovakia), it was used by Czech and later also Slovak ensembles (see above). In 1920 it became the Slovak National Theater.
The new building was constructed on the site of a previous Classic style theater built in 1776, the first permanent theater building in Slovakia, which was demolished in 1884.
Bratislava native sculptor Victor Tilgner crafted the famous Ganymede's Fountain in 1888, now located immediately in front of the theater.
The building has housed Slovak National Theater ensembles since 1920, but today only the opera and ballet ensembles are resident. It was restored between 1969 and 1972, when a new modern technical building was added behind the old building. It features a unique luster (a special ball) with 2532 bulbs enabling the creation of millions of combinations of light pictures based on a selected program.
Slovak National Theater (Bratislava, Slovakia)
The Neo-Renaissance Slovak National Theater, standing at the end of the long Hviezdoslav Square, was built in 1885–1886 during the time of Austria-Hungary, based on a design by the Viennese architects Nándor Fellner and Henrik Helmer, who designed theater buildings in 10 European countries. It was opened as the City Theater on September 22, 1886 with the opera Bánk bán of Ferenc Erkel, which is one of the most important Hungarian opera. As a sign of this event's importance Kálmán Tisza, the Hungarian Prime Minister at the time, and his government took part in the ceremony. The gala performance was conducted by Ferenc Erkel himself. The original building was designed for 1000 spectators and was illuminated using 800 gas lamps. The interior was decorated, with frescos of by Pressburg (Bratislava) native painter Kornél Spányik. The City Theater was hired by German and Hungarian professional theater companies, but beginning in 1919 (at the creation of Czechoslovakia), it was used by Czech and later also Slovak ensembles (see above). In 1920 it became the Slovak National Theater.
The new building was constructed on the site of a previous Classic style theater built in 1776, the first permanent theater building in Slovakia, which was demolished in 1884.
Bratislava native sculptor Victor Tilgner crafted the famous Ganymede's Fountain in 1888, now located immediately in front of the theater.
The building has housed Slovak National Theater ensembles since 1920, but today only the opera and ballet ensembles are resident. It was restored between 1969 and 1972, when a new modern technical building was added behind the old building. It features a unique luster (a special ball) with 2532 bulbs enabling the creation of millions of combinations of light pictures based on a selected program.