History

The Slovak National Theatre Opera Orchestra plays an important role in the history of Slovak musical culture. As part of the Slovak National Theatre, the oldest and most important theatre institution in Slovakia, the orchestra has a rich history that dates back to the establishment of the theatre.

1920 - 1940

Establishment of the Slovak National Theatre and Orchestra

The Slovak National Theatre was founded on 1 March 1920 in Bratislava, shortly after the establishment of the first Czechoslovak Republic in 1918. The theatre was originally established as a multi-purpose institution for opera, ballet and drama, despite the fact that in the first years of its existence the theatre relied mainly on Czech artists and conductors, as Slovak artists were not yet sufficiently established.

The SND Orchestra was founded at the same time as the theatre itself, and its main task was to complement opera and ballet performances. The first artistic director of the orchestra was the Czech conductor Oskar Nedbal, who led the opera ensemble and significantly influenced the development of Slovak opera and musical art. In these early years, the orchestra had to cope with limited resources and a small number of local musicians, but it quickly gained in quality.

1940 -1970

Building a home repertoire and professionalization<br>

During the Second World War and subsequently after it, there was an intensive development within the SND. After the war, efforts to strengthen Slovak identity and culture came to the fore, which was also reflected in the orchestra. More attention began to be paid to the performance of works by Slovak composers, which gradually formed the national repertoire. Among the important conductors of this era were names such as Karel Nedbal (nephew of Oskar Nedbal) and later Tibor Frešo, who shaped the orchestra into a modern professional ensemble.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the SND orchestra began to focus more on performing great opera works of the world repertoire (Verdi, Puccini, Wagner), as well as Slovak authors, among whom composers such as Eugen Suchoň (e.g. the opera Krútňava) and Ján Cikker dominated.

1970 - 2000

International recognition

In the 1970s and 1980s, the SND Orchestra became one of the most respected symphonic ensembles in Slovakia. At this time, the number of concerts of the orchestra outside the theater also increased, which increased its reputation on the domestic and international scene. Under the baton of important Slovak conductors, such as Zdeněk Košler and Ondrej Lenárd, the orchestra reached a high artistic level and began to regularly collaborate with the world's leading soloists.

During this period, the SND Orchestra also began to perform on international tours, which contributed to its extended reputation. At the same time, the dramaturgy of the concerts was expanded to include modern and contemporary works, which made the orchestra one of the world's most important orchestras.

Distinguished conductors and artistic directors

Among the most important personalities who shaped the history of the SND orchestra are Oskar Nedbal, Karel Nedbal, Zdeněk Košler, Tibor Frešo, and Ondrej Lenárd. Each of these conductors brought a new perspective on the interpretation of music to the orchestra and significantly contributed to its artistic development.

2000 - present

In the new millennium, the Slovak National Theatre Orchestra focuses on maintaining the tradition of combining classical and Slovak repertoire, but at the same time it is constantly looking for new challenges. The new premises of the Slovak National Theatre, opened in 2007, provided the orchestra with a more modern technical background, which allows for even better interpretations of opera, ballet and symphonic works.