HRN-Music 
State Theatre Kosice celebrates two events this year
105th anniversary of raising the building and 80th anniversary of foundation of professional theatre in Kosice.
Kosice today belongs to cities of European importance. Almost every foreigner who passes its historical centre bows to the art of old architects and master-builders.Besides the St.Elisabeth Cathedral the building of State Theatre is one of the major dominants of the city.This year it celebrates it´s 105th "birthday". It´s ancestor was built in 1790, but for safety reasons it was soon pulled down. The City council decided to raise a new building in a fancy modern pseudobaroque style.The construction itself took only two years and the new theatre was ceremonially open on September 28.1899. But let´s talk the expert. Here are some interesting facts according to Ing.arch. Emília Jonálová.
A present theatre building has uprised before 105 years and it's the adequate representant of the great tradition of the stage-craft in Kosice. The building, designated as a manifestation of the "ecumenism", is rare not only for its beauty, but also for the initiative to build it from the will of the culture-loving population of the city who deserved not only for the uprise of the building, but has enforced also its dignified central location and the selection of the first-rate architect.
Adolf Lang - the author of the Kosice Theatre is designated by history as one of the most talented architects of 19th century in Europe. This native of Praha-Smíchov even during his studies has manifested himself as a great talent. In his 23 years of age he finished the construction of the palace houses on distinguished Andrássi's Street in Budapest and as 25 years old he won the prestige international competition with the building of the Art Gallery in Budapest. By the creation he was consigning his knowledges to the universities' students in the Netherlands, Romania and in Vienna. He was a great expert of the historical architectures, a votary of the tradition and the solidity in the architecture, as well as the virtuoso of the colourity and the beauty of the architecture. The building of Kosice Theatre is his top piece of art, that was really dreamed out by this talented artist. He has made us the architectonic treasure appreciated and admired by the experts from all Europe.
The exterior of the building of Kosice Theatre is a pride of the city, the interior provides the spectators with the atmosphere of the warmth, glitter and a luxury. In this architecture are met in a perfect symbiosis the utility and practicality with the architectonic beauty. Extra impressive is the architecture of theTheatre exterior. The author gave to the building the majestic, even amazing entrance place. With magnificent triangular staircases he has symbolicly accented the entrance into the important building.
The harmony between the architectonic elements and the sculptural figures on the facade of the Kosice Theatre building determines the palace architecture of the distinguished secular building. Masterful application of the character apparatus and science of the stone-sculptural decoration drawing are lightening the facade mostly in its details. The balustrades, terraces, arcades are richly decorated with acads, what gives it a lacy impression. All the unit creates the multiform plastic facade with a delicate and elegant plastic colouring. For the sculptural works of art the front place of the building facade was reserved. Figural decoration draws the motive from the mythology and stage-craft. There are the statues of the angels, the sculpture of the geniuses of art there, and to crown all the sculptural programme there is a monumental figure of Aurora-The Morning Star with the torch in her hand at the top of the cupola. "Aurora musis amiva" - a friend of the Muses serves here as a symbol of a favour and protection of the whole art.
After entering the building, also the interiors keep the visitors in a festive mood with their pompous beauty. Original dispositional solution of the building is elementar, pragmatic and perspicacious. However, dominating interest of the architect Lang in the building interior re-creates particular effects of the architectural forms and decorations to capture its visitors with the fabulous atmosphere of the theatre. The interior harmony culminates in the auditorium hall. It's 16m high and with the optimal proportion of balcony and box set-out over the auditorium and with their delicate shaping evokes the poetry of shapes and a light space giddiness. The hall is ended with the bent-up hung ceiling tilted towards the stage. The portal for the scenic hole is a rich decorated architectural focus, where the world of fantasy and illusion should be opened before the man from a real world. The space beauty is highlighted by the box intimity and the components of worth painting and sculptural decoration. The figures of the theatre muses, antique gods, historical and dramatic scenes - they all compose the repertoire of the decoration. They colour the theatre space into the shining tones and carry away the spectator into the world of art, fairy-tales or dreams. The colourity of the stuccos, which are rich toned with the pastel colours, is amplified with rich gilding. Tuneful harmony of the colours is completed with the ruby-coloured drapery of velvets and carpets. All the unit after the lighting up the chandelier evokes the jewel impression.
A very process of the building construction under the permanent care of the town citizens continued with the admirable speed. After less then two years the town has prepared on Spetember 28th, 1899 grandiose ceremony of Theatre opening by the participation not only the government prominents, even the cultural elite of the country. And those who have fought out the Theatre with their self-sacrifice and who have borne all the burden of its construction - wide public of the town Kosice, have filled the Main Street until the late night. Happy and affected, they have admired with love the building of the uncommon beauty, with that they will live out a new period of the history. After 90 years of its existence the building passed over the successfull complete reconstruction and renovation and again classed itself among the most beautiful theatres all over the Europe. As the proof could serve the fact that also European Commission for the Monuments Renovation in Bruxelles has contributed to the restoration works with rather high amount.
And what is the builidng unique with? The first, unique is a beautiful architecture of Adolf Lang. When we evaluate a high standard of the original architecture, it's needed to state the successfulness of very reconstruction, that is based on the respect and discipline of the authors and the investor to the original values of the architecture, and its unobtrusive completing of needed new elements. The whole unique consists in a suitable and quality fusion of these two architectural expressions, where the old beauty is connected with new one, where the new one take care of the old one and delicately completes the harmonic unit. Renovated theatre presents itself, its ancient history and the ability to be born again for the new generation.
Last updated: 31. December 2005