Slovak National Theatre, Bratislava, Slovakia Poster

"Slovak National Theatre, Bratislava, Slovakia" by Catherine Sherman. The historic Slovak National Theatre building in Bratislava, Slovakia, features Neo-Renaissance architecture, adorned with sculptures and columns. The surrounding area includes a well-maintained garden and an ornate fountain, providing a picturesque setting. Located on Hviezdoslav Square, the Slovak National Theatre building was built in 1885–1886 during the time of Austria-Hungary. The building is based on a design by the Viennese architects Fellner & Helmer, who designed theatre buildings in various European cities. It was opened as the "City Theatre" on September 22, 1886, with the opera Bánk bán by Ferenc Erkel, which is one of the most important Hungarian operas. As a sign of this event's importance, Kálmán Tisza, then-Hungarian prime minister, and his entire cabinet, as well as noted Hungarian writer Mór Jókai, attended the ceremony. The gala performance was conducted by Ferenc Erkel himself. The original building was designed for 1,000 spectators and was illuminated using 800 gas lamps, while the auditorium had a chandelier with 64 lights. The interior was decorated with frescoes by Bratislava-native painter Kornél Spányik and paintings by Munich artist Willibald Leo von Lütgendorff-Leinburg, among others. Austrian sculptor Viktor Oskar Tilgner built the Ganymede fountain located in front of the theatre in 1888. The building was restored between 1969 and 1972, when a new modern technical building was added behind the old structure. It features a unique chandelier with 2,532 light bulbs, enabling the creation of millions of combinations of light designs based on pre-selected programs.