Description of the attraction
The National Theater of Sarajevo, well known in world theater circles, is the oldest cultural institution in the country.
With the end of the First World War, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. In 1918, Bosnia and Herzegovina united with the neighboring South Slavic states into a single kingdom of Yugoslavia. This served as a powerful impetus for the development of national culture. Although Sarajevo was poorer than other Yugoslav cities, as early as 1919 the People's Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina petitioned the Royal Ministry of Education to establish a National Theater.
He was given a building built in 1899 according to the project of the famous Czech architect Karel Parik. The entire professional life of this architect was spent in Sarajevo, his contribution to the urbanization of Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to over 150 buildings, of which 70 were built in Sarajevo. Among the most notable are the buildings of the synagogue, the National Museum, the house of the government, etc.
At the end of 1919, the theater was opened, a year later the first visiting performance took place, and in the fall of 1921 the theater held its first full theatrical season.
From the day of its foundation, for many years the theater was only dramatic, but with a large number of musical performances. In 1946, a ballet troupe and an opera group were successfully formed.
Today, the large, beautiful theater building is a national monument protected by the state. Dramatic performances, opera and ballet performances, concerts of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Society are held here under one roof. The theater is a laureate of renowned theater awards, winner of many national and international awards.
