The Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet is Slovenia's national opera and ballet company. Its seat is the Opera House at the corner of Župančič Street and Cankar Street, built from 1890 to 1892 as the Provincial Theatre in the Neo-Renaissance style to plans by the Czech architects Jan Vladimír Hráský and Anton Hruby. Until 1911 performances there were given in both German and Slovene, after which the German company moved to what is now the Drama Theatre. In 1918 the opera gained its own orchestra and a professional ballet company. The façade with Ionic columns is adorned with statues of Tragedy and Comedy by Alojz Gangl. By 2011 the house had been renovated and extended with a modern annex, increasing its floor area from 3,500 to 10,500 square metres. The company gives around 150 performances per season.
The Slovenian National Theatre Ljubljana, founded in 1892, is one of the oldest multi-genre houses in Central Europe — the magnificent Art Nouveau building is considered an architectural landmark of the Slovenian capital.
At a glance
- Type
- Multi-genre theatre
- Location
- Ljubljana, Slovenia