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The National Theatre
The architectural monument that
hosts nowadays the National Theatre was built in 1904, at the border of
the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the time, and designed by Austrian architects
Helmer and Fellper. The National Theatre is one of the main cultural institutions
of the city.
The architectural style of the Theatre, specific for the beginning of
the XXth century, is Secession with Baroque influences. The elements of
the façade are integrated in an elegant harmony, with three arched
portals and two low towers. Three sculpted chariots, each pulled by three
lions and an allegoric figure holding a palm above the head, top the towers.
The Theatre has 1028 seats, in two main halls. The Main House may receive
928 spectators at one time, while the recently opened Euphorion Studio
may receive 100.
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The State Theatre was established
on the 18th of September 1919, after the Great Union (1918), under the
leadership of Zaharia Barsan.
It was inaugurated on the 1st of December 1919. The repertoire was mainly
a classical one, but later, under the leadership of Victor Papilian, a
current of modernism took over.
An aftermath of the Treaty of Vienna, in 1940, is the moving of the National
Theatre to Timisoara, returning to Cluj in 1945. The communist period
will bring about numerous cut-offs and restrictions, yet the subsequent
period was also affected by setbacks and successful representations. However,
the theatre was the point of departure for many well renowned Romanian
artists, to mention only Dorel Visan, Silvia Ghelan, Anton Tauf, directors
Mihai Maniutiu, V. I. Frunza and a place where the new talents of the
Theatre Section of the Faculty of Letters where shaped.
National Theatre Address: Stefan cel Mare Square
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