News

The monograph of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, the most comprehensive and artistically rich monographic edition ever published on the central Croatian national theatre, co-published by the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb and Školska knjiga, was presented at the ceremony on the stage of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. The promotion was the central event marking the 130th anniversary of the opening of the historic building of the Croatian National Theatre, designed by the famous Viennese architectural studio Fellner and Helmer, and which was ceremonially opened on October 14, 1895, with Emperor Franz Joseph I striking the stone of the central pillar of the fence on the terrace of the northern facade of the theatre. This comprehensive monograph follows in detail the activities of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb from its foundation in the mid-19th century to the present day, when the long-awaited new stage of the CNT in Zagreb in Adžijina Street – CNT2 – is opening.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated the following: This luxurious book, published by the CNT in Zagreb in cooperation with Školska knjiga, reminds us of the 130 years of the rich past of the CNT in Zagreb, which exists as a living center of cultural life, a symbol of national identity and a vibrant place for discovering the process of creating theatrical art. I am particularly proud that this Government has enabled the CNT to step forward into the 21st century and that we will open the new stage of CNT2 precisely in this anniversary year, because the problem of the lack of a second stage has not been resolved for years. This is just one example of how, as part of the reconstruction after the earthquake, we have invested additional efforts and funds in order to revitalize the existing cultural infrastructure of the capital and give it a new life according to contemporary cultural needs. CNT2 is a symbol of a new era, an era of modernization, education and international cooperation. In addition to spatial modernization, a new law on theaters was adopted, artists' salaries were increased, ballet artists were ensured a dignified retirement, we also launched the K-HNK project, a consortium of national theaters, and this is just one part of the important cultural policy reforms. The monograph we are presenting today is more than a book, it is a permanent monument to Croatian art and to all the generations that created and built this theater.

The general manager of the CNT in Zagreb, Dr. Iva Hraste Sočo, emphasized the importance of marking the 130th anniversary of the building of the Croatian National Theater as an opportunity to recall the rich history of this national theater and as an incentive for its further development. The Croatian National Theater in Zagreb has been shaping Croatian cultural and national identity for 130 years by presenting works of Croatian and world drama, opera and ballet. Artists, employees and audiences are the heart of our theatre, and the CNT Management is focused on modern management of the house in line with national and European theatre trends, with an eye to the future. In the year of the 130th anniversary of the historic building, we are also witnessing the completion of the construction of a new stage in Adžija Street. The symbolic connection of the two stages – the one on the Republic of Croatia Square and the new CNT2 – marks a historic step forward and opens up space for new artistic collaborations and achievements. I am grateful to everyone who, over the course of a century and a half, has contributed to the development of the CNT in Zagreb into a modern and recognizable theatre in the heart of Europe, which we have tried to bring closer with this beautiful monographic edition.

The monograph has 750 pages written by around twenty experts from different fields of science and art – theatre scholars, musicologists, theatre critics, art historians, architects and

designers – providing a diverse and comprehensive view of the history, present and future of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

The editor-in-chief of the publication, Dr. Martina Petranović, commented on the scope and significance of the monograph: The monograph examines the historical course of the Croatian National Theatre, starting from the struggle to establish a professional theatre in the Croatian language, through the profiling of the Croatian National Theatre as a national house with three artistic branches, Drama, Opera and Ballet, to the diverse and multifaceted cultural, symbolic and identity roles of the Croatian National Theatre in the overall theatrical, cultural and public life of Croatia and its capital city to the present day. The dialogue of carefully designed textual material and carefully selected visual material not only vividly evokes the turbulent and rich history of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, but also makes this book a rounded, representative and capital publication worthy of both the solemn moment and the history of the central Croatian national theatre house.

Dr. sc. Ante Žužul, president of the Board of Directors of Školska knjiga, thanked all collaborators, authors, artists and employees of the Croatian National Theatre who contributed to the creation of this monograph, and stated: on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, we celebrate a theatre that has been more than an artistic stage throughout history – it is a symbol of the struggle for the Croatian language, cultural identity and national unity. Školska knjiga is proud to participate in the publication of a monograph dedicated to this heritage, confirming its commitment to the preservation of Croatian culture and creativity.

The monograph was published with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, and was realized thanks to the partnership and financial support of the Croatian Postal Bank. The entire celebration of the 130th anniversary of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb is taking place under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and on this occasion the Croatian Post has issued a commemorative postage stamp.