Opernhaus Bratislava Pressburg - Hound Dog

The novel Hound Dog awarded the Anasoft Litera Readers’ Prize in 2011, is a brilliant, captivatingly realistic, yet at the same time self-ironising narrative about the Slovak spirit not only shortly after the Velvet Revolution but also in the years after. With the precise eye of a knowledgeable and experienced observer, Pavel Vilikovský has captured the feelings of the post-communist society of the 1990s, to which the door to the Western world has been opened. This rather simple story introduces us to the editor of the publishing house Iks Ypsilon, who has to present two Slovak writers in Austria, although they may not be the most prominent sample. The editor’s narrative allows room for many micro-stories, tragicomic situations, brilliant associations and precise comments on the theme of pure Slovakness, national character and pettiness. At the same time, the editor follows in the footsteps of the Austrian author Thomas Bernhard. Suddenly, the respective experiences and historical peripeteia of two small neighbouring nations are juxtaposed, or rather placed side by side. As he wanders through the Austrian countryside, however, he happens to meet Margaret, as if by some miracle, and thus another layer of the story is revealed. One that speaks of the changing forms of love, of maturity and the need to live life while we have the chance.

Hound Dog is a brilliant piece of literature about literature, culture interwoven with irony and insight, but also sensitivity and appreciation. Perhaps the best definition of us Slovaks by Vilikovský: „My dear Slovaks! When will you finally understand that if someone wants a Slovak exactly to their liking, they have to actually bother to make one themselves?“

The production is suitable for audiences aged 15 and over.

Running time: 2 hrs no interval

program

Der Straßenköter

Autor: Pavel Vilikovský

Der Hund auf der Straße ist bravouröse Literatur über Literatur, Kultur, verflochten durch Ironie, Abstand aber auch Feinfühligkeit und Verständnis.

Place

The Slovak National Theatre is the second oldest Slovak professional theatre. It has 3 ensembles (drama, opera and ballet). It was founded in 1920 after the creation of Czechoslovakia as a cooperative and became a state-run company in 1945. Between 1920 and 1945, there was also a musical ensemble. The Slovak National Theatre has represented Slovak culture on its numerous tours abroad.

It was created and, in the 1920s, also run by Czech artists (e.g. Oskar Nedbal, director during 1923-1930). The first performance was the Czech opera Hubička by Bedřich Smetana on March 1, 1920. The ensembles were Slovakized only gradually. In 1932, the drama ensemble split into the SNT Slovak Drama Company led by Janko Borodáč, and into the SNT Czech Drama Company, led by V. Šulc. The Czech Drama Company ceased to operate when it was forced to leave Slovakia in 1938. Since then, the drama ensemble has performed in Slovak only, but in the opera ensemble there were Czech artists even after 1945. In recent years, operas have been presented in their original languages.

Initially, all 3 ensembles were active at the old Slovak National Theatre building. From 1955 to early 2007, the drama company performed at the P. O. Hviezdoslav Theatre and from 1962 to (?)2006 also at a chamber theatre called Malá scéna SND (SNT Small Stage). Since 2007, the ensembles perform only at the old Slovak National Theatre building and the new Slovak National Theatre building opened in April, 2007.

The drama company was shaped by the directors Janko Borodáč, F. Hoffman, J. Jamnický, J.Budský, T. Rakovský, K. I. Zachary, P. Haspra, M. Pietor and the current one – Dušan Jamrich.

The opera ensemble was led by conductors such as Oskar Nedbal, K. Nedbal, J. Vincourek and T. Frešo, and directors including V. Šulc and M. Wasserbauer. The opera became known abroad under the leadership of Czech conductor Oskar Nedbal, who also introduced the first Slovak operas of Jozef Levoslav Bella and V. Figuš Bystrý, and under K. Nedbal, who improved the dramma programme. A great boom occurred after WWII. The SNT witnessed the rise of modern Slovak opera by Eugen Suchoň, Ján Cikker, Alexander Moyzes, Tibor Andrašovan, T. Frešo, and many others. Many singers from the SNT are famous abroad, e.g. Edita Grúberová, Lucia Popp, Peter Dvorský, R. Petrák, S. Kopčák, M. Hajóssyová, E. Jenisová, J. Galla, Jozef Kundlák, and many others.

The ballet ensemble has grown from a small group in 1920 to a huge ensemble today.