National Theater of Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina is the oldest professional theater. It was founded in 1921. In the beginning of its activity the National Theater of Sarajevo operated exclusively as a dramatic theater.
In 1946, National Theater get the musical segments and so will the rich history of theater bring us exceptional Opera, and Ballet.
On 9th of November of 1946, the Sarajevo opera started its activity, with a ceremonial premiere of “Prodana nevjesta” by Bedrich Smetana. This has made great progress in the development of music culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajev Ballet was established in 1946 as well, but his first independent show, "Harvest" by the B. Papandopulo took place on 25th May 1950, which was also the beginning of his professional existence on the scene of the National Theater.
During his over 85 years long activity Sarajevo National Theater has played a huge number of drama, ballet, opera performances throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also abroad.
No significant art festivals in the region and in Europe as well could have passed without the presence of our theater. National Theater of Sarajevo gave a special contribution to the emancipation of Bosnian social environment, especially in the period after the Second World War, when our theater became the leader of Europeanization of B&H theater space.
Entire pleiad of actors, director, set designer, costume designers, choreographers, ballet and opera artists, conductors, acquired their fame on the scene of the National Theater in Sarajevo. Some like Ljiljana Molnar-Talajić, world-renowned primadone, bring the glory of Sarajevo and the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Theater on the stages of the world's most important theaters.
Showcases of our theater are decorated with medals and other festival merits, and the National Theater of Sarajevo, as the only opera and ballet Theater in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is central place of development of the Performing Arts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
THE BUILDING
National Theater (originally “Social Home”), in Sarajevo was built in 1897 by the project of Karl Paržik, and the opening ceremony was held on 2nd of January of 1899, with a play “Medea” by Franz Grillparzer (1791 – 1872), an Austrian dramatist who formally used to link the inheritance of the Austrian Baroque and ideological elements of the German classics.
Performace was entrusted to the Croatian Nationa Theater from Zagreb, and began with a prologue of Silvijo Strahimir Kranjčević – Vila prosvjete.
During the Austro-Hungarian rule in B&H, it will primarly be used for "Vereinshaus" or "Herrenclub" or "Clubhaus" with the hall in which plays, so called "Saaltheater”, can be played.
In 1922 the house was converted into a National Theater.
National Theater, in 1888.
