The
SOF
6.
National Theatre
Ivan Vazov
Deacon Ignatius Street № 5
HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE This is the oldest and most renown theatre of Bulgaria. Its building was erected at the location of the small old wooden theatre. The building was designed by two of the most prominent Viennese architects, who are specialists in constructing theatres throughout Europe – Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. And the abundant interior was mastered by the Viennese artist Rudolf Fuchs.
The building is exceptionally beautiful, in Baroque style, of classic triangular pediment and Ionian columns. It resembles a classic temple of art. Additionally, this is underlined by the beautiful relief with golden highlights that depicts Apollo – the god of Sun and master of arts, surrounded by the four muses.
The national theatre opened its doors on the 3rd of January 1907 with a bang that came not only from the stormy applause by the spectators, but also by the noisy chants of the students protesting outside, booing at the king at the time of his arrival at the opening. This scandal made Tsar Ferdinand so angry that in reply he ordered for Sofia University to be closed for 6 months, something unseen that caused significant response by society.
The writer Ivan Vazov (1850-1921), after whom the theatre was named, is one of the most famous in Bulgaria. He is the author of many popular playwrights, and he used to be regular spectator of the performances. Hence he had a reserved place at the ground floor that is with golden upholstery and is preserved until today.
The hall contains 850 seats and three stages. For the first time, in 1929 they delivered from Germany stage mechanization, which was available only to the most famous theatres. Some of it is operational even today. At the time, the first balcony of the big stage was mobile, quite the innovation at the time.
Today, at its stage they present the playwrights by the most interesting Bulgarian directors and scenographers being the face of the modern Bulgarian theatre. During every season, on the three stages they play over 600 performances and present around 10 premiere spectacles.
From its creation to present days, it is being visited by the elite of Bulgarian intellectual society and politics. In 1923 an assault was performed in theatre against the Prime-minister Alexander Stamboliyski, yet it was not successful and nobody got injured.
The building has suffered serious material damages more than once. On the 10th of February 1923 during a spectacle a fire broke out on stage and almost destroyed the building. A major reconstruction was necessary during which numerous improvements were performed, some of them happened for the first time in Bulgaria. Once again, on the same date, but in January 1944 the building got hit during the bombarding above Sofia during the Second World War.
Obviousely it is not by chance that a beautiful phoenix is depicted onto theatre’s curtain – the bird that resurrects from the ashes every time. The work is art by itself. It is performed by the artist Ivan Kirkov. It was woven in Bulgaria, back in 1975, of very high quality, manually with technique for carpet-making and is a piece whose width is 11.8 meters, its height is 8.8 meters and its weight is 350 kg.
NEAR BY you can see also
THE CITY
GARDEN
A magnificent and very lively small city garden with colourful and rich history.
It is the oldest in Sofia, opened in the end of the XIX century. Its official appellation is the “City garden” yet all the Sofia residents call it the garden in front of the National theatre.
Back in 1891, it used to be an arena of a political homicide, and the kiosk for books and magazines of Chipev turned into cultural gathering point for artists and intellectuals. Today quite colourful are the chess players that could be seen playing chess parties at any time in the open air, and the jolly street musicians bring everyone high spirits.
THE CHURCH
" HOLIY SEVEN
DISCIPLES "
Right in the centre of Sofia, close to “Slaveykov” Square, an old temple with beautiful garden is located – at present, this is the church “Holy Seven disciples”.
Yet it was not this way all the time. Built as mosque in 1528, it was known for 300 years as the Black mosque because of granite’s colour, invested in its minaret. Nevertheless, it fell during an earthquake and the mosque was abandoned. After 1878 it was used for a short period as a prison. One of the prisoners, prominent public figure and politician made a promise that once he goes out, he would turn this place into a church. So, he remained true to his promise. In 1901 according to his proposal, a refurbishment was initiated. The domes and the bell-tower were additionally constructed. The church preserved its original appearance, whereas even the wall clock at one of its towers is operational today.
PLAZA
PETKO
SLAVEIKOV "
Nestled amidst the buildings in the centre of Sofia, the small yet emblematic square is Sofia residents’ favourite place. For years it has been a book market in the open air and home of Bouquinistes.
For more than 300 years it has been known as square “Kafene bashi” named after the favourite coffee-shop that was famous at the time and destroyed in 1878. Today, it is named “Slaveykov” square, in living memory of Petko Slaveykov – a famous Bulgarian artist and public figure whose house was at one of its corners. Today, Petko and his son, Pencho Slaveykov are still there, immortalized by the sculptor Georgi Chapkanov, seated at a bench at the beginning of the square, carried away in conversation staring somewhere ahead of time.
