National Theatre of Miskolc
Encyclopedia
The National Theatre of Miskolc is the main theatre of Miskolc
, and the oldest theatre company of Hungary
. Its current Classicist and Neo-baroque
building built between 1847–1857, standing in downtown Széchenyi street is home to not only theatrical plays, but events like the International Opera Festival of Miskolc
.
and lack of funds. Serious construction speeded up again in the early 1850s, partly with the upcoming visit of Franz Joseph I (the emperor eventually did not take part in the opening ceremony).
After a decade of construction, the theatre opened on 3 September 1857 with the play Marót bán by Mihály Vörösmarty
. Its first director was Endre Latabár, the first member of the illustrious Latabár actor-dynasty. For several years, the lower levels of the building were occupied by shops (their rent partly funded the theatre), and the upper levels were home to the National Casino. The theatre was often home to the guest performances of Déryné Széppataki Róza, the most known actress of the era.
The building was reconstructed in 1880, and extending with a fire-watch tower. The theatre, formerly belonging to a joint stock company, became the property of the municipality of Miskolc in 1914.
1990 saw a further extension, enlarging the theatre to twice of its former floor space, 16 000 square meters, including five separate stage halls. The complex is also home to a museum dedicated to the theatrical history of Miskolc.
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
, and the oldest theatre company of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Its current Classicist and Neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
building built between 1847–1857, standing in downtown Széchenyi street is home to not only theatrical plays, but events like the International Opera Festival of Miskolc
Miskolc Opera Festival
The Miskolc Opera Festival or International Opera Festival of Miskolc is a cultural event held every summer in Miskolc, the capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary...
.
History
The first theatre in Miskolc was built between 1819 and 1823, the second fully stone theatre in the country (the first one being in Kolozsvár) was premiering with A tatárok Magyarországban on 24 August. This structure was destroyed in fire on 19 July 1843. With money from the insurance company and public contributions, construction of a new building has started on 3 September 1847, with a design of József Cassano, but was slowed by the 1848 RevolutionHungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
and lack of funds. Serious construction speeded up again in the early 1850s, partly with the upcoming visit of Franz Joseph I (the emperor eventually did not take part in the opening ceremony).
After a decade of construction, the theatre opened on 3 September 1857 with the play Marót bán by Mihály Vörösmarty
Mihály Vörösmarty
Mihály Vörösmarty was an important Hungarian poet and dramatist.He was born at Puszta-Nyék , of a noble Roman Catholic family. His father was a steward of the Nádasdys. Mihály was educated at Székesfehérvár by the Cistercians and at Pest by the Piarists...
. Its first director was Endre Latabár, the first member of the illustrious Latabár actor-dynasty. For several years, the lower levels of the building were occupied by shops (their rent partly funded the theatre), and the upper levels were home to the National Casino. The theatre was often home to the guest performances of Déryné Széppataki Róza, the most known actress of the era.
The building was reconstructed in 1880, and extending with a fire-watch tower. The theatre, formerly belonging to a joint stock company, became the property of the municipality of Miskolc in 1914.
1990 saw a further extension, enlarging the theatre to twice of its former floor space, 16 000 square meters, including five separate stage halls. The complex is also home to a museum dedicated to the theatrical history of Miskolc.
Sources
- Gyarmati, Béla: Legendák, anekdoták, emlékek a miskolci színjátszás történetéből. Budapest: Nazar Bt., 2007. ISBN 978-963-06-2775-7
- http://mek.oszk.hu/02000/02065/html/1kotet/16.html, http://mek.oszk.hu/02100/02139/html/sz15/412.html Early theatre of Miskolc and National Theatre of Miskolc in the Hungarian Theatrical Lexicon (György, Székely. Magyar Színházmuvészeti Lexikon. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994. ISBN 9789630566353), freely available on mek.oszk.hu
External links
- National Theatre of Miskolc website
- Official site of the Opera Festival (in Hungarian, English and German)