Národní divadlo moravskoslezské is a theatre in Ostrava. It was founded after the First World War on the initiative of an association that wanted to build a Czech theatre in Ostrava, and since 1920 it has had its permanent seat in the building of what is now the Antonín Dvořák Theatre [1].
Foundation
The idea of an association that would build a Czech theatre in Ostrava was put forward in 1918 by Jan Prokeš. Preparatory work was carried out by a committee chaired by Ferdinand Pelc, with Jan Prokeš and Konstantin Grünwald as vice-chairmen. The association Národní divadlo moravskoslezské was formed on 13 October 1918 at a ceremonial general meeting held in the town hall in Slezská Ostrava [1].
The theatre began its activity on 12 August 1919 in the building of the Městské divadlo, now the Antonín Dvořák Theatre, with a performance of Smetana's The Bartered Bride. From the beginning it had four ensembles: drama, ballet, opera and operetta [1]. The first director was Václav Jiřikovský, who held the post until 1923. The first head of opera was Emanuel Bastl and the first head of ballet Achille Viscusi [1].
Seat and first seasons
In the 1919/1920 season the ensemble played alternately in two buildings: in the Městské divadlo, where it alternated with a German ensemble, and in the Národní dům, now the Divadlo Jiřího Myrona. In 1920 the building of the Městské divadlo became the permanent seat; the German ensemble moved to the Deutsches Haus [1].
In 1920 Director Jiřikovský decided to dissolve the operetta ensemble, but operetta continued to be performed by the opera ensemble. The operetta ensemble was restored in 1923 [1]. In the spring of 1923 the theatre was led from March to May by a five-member board whose members were František Uhlíř, Karel Kügler, Achille Viscusi, Emanuel Bastl and Aleš Kovařík. On 11 February 1923 the opera orchestra appeared for the first time in concert under the direction of Emanuel Bastl. From 1923 František Uhlíř was director, until 1925 [1].
The 1920s and 1930s
In 1924 Milena Fuchsová became head of ballet, and in 1925 the leadership of the theatre was taken over by a theatre commission made up of Bohuš Tichý, Karel Prox, Emanuel Bastl, Ladislav Knotek and Leopold Dostal as chairman, which served until 1926. Richard Stuchlý then became head of ballet [1]. Miloš Nový was director from 1926 to 1930 [1].
In 1927 Jaroslav Vogel became head of opera, a function he held until 1943. In the same year Max Semmler joined as head of ballet, and briefly also Loris Relský, who stayed until 1928. On Vogel's initiative a series of regular symphony concerts began on 10 January 1928, played by the enlarged theatre orchestra; the soloists included Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith and Sergei Prokofiev [1].
On 7 October 1929 the Studio of the Národní divadlo moravskoslezské was founded with a production of Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape, which was the first experimental presentation of avant-garde theatre in Ostrava. Also in 1929 the Ostrava studio of Czechoslovak Radio began to broadcast live transmissions of operas and symphonic works prepared by the theatre [1]. From 1929 the head of ballet was Saša Machov, until 1934, and in 1934 he was replaced by Jaroslav Häusler, who stayed until 1938 [1].
From 1930 Ladislav Knotek was director of the theatre, until 1939. Jan Škoda became the first appointed head of drama in 1930. In the years 1931 to 1932 the drama ensemble had no head and Škoda appeared as a guest director; from 1932 to 1937 he was head again [1]. In October 1936 the Club of Czech and German Theatre Workers was formed, which expressed anti-fascist solidarity [1].