This article was published in the Košice Region Travel Guide. Discover the region on the border between Western and Eastern European culture with our regionial guide.
Walking from the north end of Košice’s Hlavná ulica, the first large building set in the centre of the pedestrian mall is the State Theatre. The current opera house replaced an earlier theatre structure (there has been an active theatre on this site since 1755) and opened its doors in 1896.
The building is an eclectic style with elements of neo-baroque and secession. It was designed by the architect Adolf Lang, one of the most talented European architects of the 19th century. While the exterior is imposing, dominating the centre of the square, the recently renovated interior is a classic European opera/ballet house.
The stunning recreated chandelier (identical to the original) hangs above the lyre-shaped stage and four balcony galleries with facings trimmed in gilded plaster. It illuminates a ceiling painted with scenes from four of Shakespeare’s plays. The front-of-house features two original marble staircases sweeping on either side of the elegant lobby.
