site.btaJanuary 3, 1907: National Theatre Building Unveiled

January 3 marks 119 years since the ceremonial opening of “the iconic building of the National Theatre – a place where art and the spirit of Bulgaria have met for more than a century”, the Theatre said on its official Facebook page on Saturday.

The building, designed by Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, was inaugurated on January 3, 1907. Its foundations were laid on June 4, 1904, on the site of the wooden Osnova Theatre, where the troupe had previously staged its performances.

“A young nation needs the ennobling influence of the stage. Consider yourselves not only priests of art, but also educators of society. The magnificent building is not yet a theatre. It will become one when it is imbued with spirit through the actor’s performance,”  Ivan Shishmanov, education minister between 1903 and 1907, said at the opening, as recalled by the National Theatre.

The building soon became a symbol of a modernizing Sofia.

“Over the years, the building has withstood the trials of time – fires, bombings and multiple reconstructions – while preserving its role as a home of the arts. From [poets] Pencho Slaveykov and Peyo Yavorov to [stage actor and theatre director] Nikolai Massalitinov, [writer] Nikolaj Liliev and many other great names, the National Theatre has always been a focal point for the most prominent figures of Bulgarian culture,” its team noted.

"Today, 119 years after its opening, the National Theatre continues to inspire generations of artists and audiences alike, proving that culture is timeless," it added.