Four operas, two ballets, and five drama pieces along with opera concerts and a ballet gala-concert are prepared by the State Theatre Košice for the new season 2022/2023. The dramaturgic plans of the theatre were introduced at the press briefing today by Ondrej Šoth, General Director of ŠDKE, Roland Khern Tóth, Director ŠDKE Opera, Anton Korenči, Director ŠDKE Drama, Andrej Suchanov, Art Director ŠDKE Ballet, and Peter Valentovič, Chief Conductor, ŠDKE Opera.
“When preparing the pieces, in the previous season, we continued with the idea of connecting all the three ensembles, connecting art. This could also be seen in our on-line productions during the pandemic and the premieres produced by the theatre after re-opening. We will pursue the course in season 2022/2023”, says General Director, Ondrej Šoth; adding that despite all the circumstances, from the pandemic up to the present-day war, season 2021/2022 brought success.
“King Roger by Karol Szymanowsky will be the first opera premiere staged in November. Three more operas will be introduced later this season: Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Kálmán’s The Csárdás Princess, and the season will be completed in June 2023, presenting Donizetti’s Anna Bolena“, says Roland Khern Tóth, Director ŠDKE Opera. In addition to the mentioned premieres, we also prepare three more opera titles from our repertoire that have not been presented for more than two years due to the pandemic: Verdi’s Rigoletto and Otello and Kálmán’s operetta Countess Maritza, added chief conductor Peter Valentovič. Moreover, several concerts are prepared by the ensemble, as well. The first gala-concert is designed to celebrate the jubilee of Peter Dvorský, Slovak tenor legend and former Košice Opera Director. Originally scheduled for the autumn of the past year but later re-scheduled due to the pandemic. The gala featuring both soloists and guests of the ensemble will be held on September, 24 2022 under Peter Valentovič, opera chief conductor.
“We cannot forget what is going on around us. That is why we have decided, together with Peter Valentovič, chief conductor, and Stanislav Trnovský, dramaturge, to prepare a special concert on February, 24 2023 as the commemoration of the beginning of the War in Ukraine. In terms of dramaturgy, it is designed as a demanding concert bringing the message of humanity. An eclectic fusion of three art pieces. “I turned around and saw all the injustice under the sun" Bernd Alois Zimmermann, art piece for one voice and two actors. The gala will also present Chamber Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich and one movement from Symphony No. 3 Peace Shall Defeat War by Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshinsky“, added Roland Khern Tóth.
Anton Korenči, Director ŠDKE drama, brings further tips on the season to come: “We detailed and upgraded dramaturgy a bit. And we want to follow this trend in the next season. A great opus is expected in early November. A major work by the playwright Peter Weiss Marat/Sade. In Košice, the piece will be staged by a legend of Slovak stage direction Vladimír Strnisko. In late November, the theatre brings premiere of a brand-new experimental work Otočte kone! by Slovak contemporary author Ján Mikuš. The playwright has been awarded by ŠDKE Drama Company at the New Drama festival. He won Drama 2020 category, which is declared by the Theatre Institute each year. Three more titles are to be released in spring. The first one is a treasure part of world literature – Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. Not the most well-known Shakespearean work. Only once staged in Slovakia. We picked the work as it best corresponds with current situation – a clash of two worlds, two cultures at the decline of Roman Empire. The second title to be released, in the historical building, is Shaffer’s Amadeus, which is well known by many in a great film version by Miloš Forman. The season is to be closed by a comedy Perplex by contemporary German playwright Marius von Mayenburg“.
Two new premieres are to be released by the Ballet Company. “In late October, original ballet called Proces (The Trial, just as the most famous Kafka’s work). It is being prepared by a unique author team Jiří Bubeníček (directing and choreography) and his twin brother Oto Bubeníček (stage design). Though originally dancers from Czechia, they have become, at an early age, first soloists at Hamburg Opera. Once again, Košice will welcome world-class dancers who performed at leading world scenes. Interestingly, both of them studied with Andrej Halász, which makes a unique link to Slovakia and Košice. A ballet concert called Balet Gala will be launched in November. Foreign guests are expected along with local soloists. A brand-new staging of Giselle, accompanied by Adolph Charles Adam’s music, is planned for the second half of the season - March 2023. A classic title but modern adaptation. In a long time, another great classic ballet production“, said Andrej Suchanov, Art Director of the Ballet Company.
A record of the press briefing, more detailed information on other activities of the theatre, and overall evaluation of the season are available at FB profile of the State Theatre Košice: https://www.facebook.com/sdke.sk/videos/474028761196343.
