Balgarianovinite.com 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. January 3, 1907: National Theatre Building Unveiled 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-01-03 14:11:51 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law