Opernhaus Bratislava/Pressburg - Asche und Leidenschaft

Embers is a theatre adaptation of a novel Embers written by the Hungarian writer Sándor Márai. It is a fascinating reconstruction of betrayal, friendship, hunt and passion. This magic story about two old friends’ meeting attracts the theatregoers and they become part of the story of these two old men: self-confident general Henrik, supporting the values of the ‘old world’, and his childhood friend, the globetrotter Konrad. Forty years ago something happened between these two men what made Konrad to leave the family seat and the fellowship of his best friend and his beautiful young wife Christine. Konrad’s visit after forty years makes the embers to catch fire again.

The world premiere of the play took place in Duke of York’ Theatre on February 15th 2006, initiated and produced by Eric Abraham and Robert Haggiag.

The production was nominated for the DOSKY award in 2007 in the Best Production category, the Best Director category (Roman Polák) and the Best Male Actor (Martin Huba as Henrik).

Running time: 2 hrs 30 mins with one interval

program

Asche und Leidenschaft
Autor: Christopher Hampton
Nach dem Roman von Sándor Márai Die Glut. Eine fesselnde Rekonstruktion von Verrat, Freundschaft, Jagd und Leidenschaft.

Place

The Slovak National Theatre is the second oldest Slovak professional theatre. It has 3 ensembles (drama, opera and ballet). It was founded in 1920 after the creation of Czechoslovakia as a cooperative and became a state-run company in 1945. Between 1920 and 1945, there was also a musical ensemble. The Slovak National Theatre has represented Slovak culture on its numerous tours abroad.

It was created and, in the 1920s, also run by Czech artists (e.g. Oskar Nedbal, director during 1923-1930). The first performance was the Czech opera Hubička by Bedřich Smetana on March 1, 1920. The ensembles were Slovakized only gradually. In 1932, the drama ensemble split into the SNT Slovak Drama Company led by Janko Borodáč, and into the SNT Czech Drama Company, led by V. Šulc. The Czech Drama Company ceased to operate when it was forced to leave Slovakia in 1938. Since then, the drama ensemble has performed in Slovak only, but in the opera ensemble there were Czech artists even after 1945. In recent years, operas have been presented in their original languages.

Initially, all 3 ensembles were active at the old Slovak National Theatre building. From 1955 to early 2007, the drama company performed at the P. O. Hviezdoslav Theatre and from 1962 to (?)2006 also at a chamber theatre called Malá scéna SND (SNT Small Stage). Since 2007, the ensembles perform only at the old Slovak National Theatre building and the new Slovak National Theatre building opened in April, 2007.

The drama company was shaped by the directors Janko Borodáč, F. Hoffman, J. Jamnický, J.Budský, T. Rakovský, K. I. Zachary, P. Haspra, M. Pietor and the current one – Dušan Jamrich.

The opera ensemble was led by conductors such as Oskar Nedbal, K. Nedbal, J. Vincourek and T. Frešo, and directors including V. Šulc and M. Wasserbauer. The opera became known abroad under the leadership of Czech conductor Oskar Nedbal, who also introduced the first Slovak operas of Jozef Levoslav Bella and V. Figuš Bystrý, and under K. Nedbal, who improved the dramma programme. A great boom occurred after WWII. The SNT witnessed the rise of modern Slovak opera by Eugen Suchoň, Ján Cikker, Alexander Moyzes, Tibor Andrašovan, T. Frešo, and many others. Many singers from the SNT are famous abroad, e.g. Edita Grúberová, Lucia Popp, Peter Dvorský, R. Petrák, S. Kopčák, M. Hajóssyová, E. Jenisová, J. Galla, Jozef Kundlák, and many others.

The ballet ensemble has grown from a small group in 1920 to a huge ensemble today.