The Bratislava Opera House - officially known as the old building of the Slovak National Theater - is a neo-Renaissance building that was opened in 1886 as a municipal theater.
The neo-Renaissance opera house of the Slovak National Theatre was built in 1884-86 as a municipal theater. It was designed by the Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who specialized in theater construction. The new theater replaced the old municipal theater from 1776, which no longer met current requirements. Busts of famous composers are integrated into the oval entrance façade, above them the stone sculpture group 'Muse of Thalia' by the Viennese sculptor T. Friedl and to the side two putti, winged figures of children by V. Tilgner, symbolizing tragedy and comedy.
The plush red velvet house and gilded auditorium can accommodate just over 600 people. The season runs from September to July. The repertoire includes a comprehensive program of opera, ballet and drama, including old favorites such as Mozart's Magic Flute as well as contemporary performances by the Dragon Kungfu Dance Company.
The façade of the opera house is adorned with a terrace. It can be reached from the salon and offers a wonderful view of the entire square in front of the opera house. The opera Bánk Bán by the Hungarian composer Ferenc Erkel was performed at the opening ceremony. The Slovak National Theatre was founded in 1920 under the direction of Oskar Nedbal, who helped it achieve a high level of prestige. Its good reputation and top artists made it an insider tip among connoisseurs of classical music.
In front of the opera house, visitors can admire a beautiful Ganymede fountain from 1888. It was designed by the Bratislava-born sculptor Viktor Oskar Tilgner, who also created the monument to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Vienna's Burggarten. The fountain in front of the opera house conveys the Greek legend of Ganymede, how he is abducted by an eagle to Mount Olympus, where he will serve Zeus and in return experience eternal youth. This is reflected to this day in the happy expression on the boy's face. The sculpture is completed by fish and animals living in the Danube.
An innovative new addition to the Slovakian National Theater was opened on the banks of the Danube in 2007. The seven-storey SND New Building is made of gleaming glass and marble and seats 1,677 people in its three auditoriums.
The SND New Building © Slovak National Theater
