Svätopluk

This monumental and historical drama is not only a celebration of the glorious Slavic past but also a compelling musical drama with an intriguing inner world of the main characters. The ruler Svätopluk faces a dilemma: to stand up for a new Christian future or to give in to the pagans, follow the legacy of Rastislav or hold on to his power at all costs? His inner self is also tormented by the personal drama of a ruler who committed grave moral misdeeds on his way to power. The reconciliation with God and with his conscience comes as the culmination of the drama at the end in the form of prophetic sovereign wisdom and benevolence. However, the new production by the director Roman Polák also addresses issues prevailing in contemporary society. Are we going to stand up for our freedom and a sustainable future, or are we going to give way to those who cannot see even a few steps ahead?
 
We would like to advise the audience with breathing problems, suffering from epilepsy or hypersensitive viewers to be aware that in this production, there are intermittent light stimuli and the use of fire, which may result in smoke possibly extending into the auditorium.
 
The production is suitable for audiences aged 15 and over.
 
Running time: 3 hours 20 minutes with two breaks

program

Diese Vorstellung ist für Zuschauer unter 15 Jahren nicht geeignet.
 
Vorstellungsdauer: 3 Stunden 20 Minuten mit zwei Pausen.

Wir möchten Zuschauer mit Atembeschwerden, Epilepsie gegebenenfalls hypersensitive Zuschauer auf die Verwendung von unterbrochenen Lichtimpulsen und Feuer in der Inszenierung hinweisen.
Beim Feuer entsteht Rauch, der in sich in den Zuschauerraum ausbreiten kann.

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.