Iași National Theatre

For the theatre in Moldova, see Bălți National Theatre.

Vasile Alecsandri National Theatre
Teatrul Național „Vasile Alecsandri” din Iași
Construction
Great Theatre of Moldavia
Front view
Address	18 Agatha Bârsescu Street Iași Romania
Type	National theatre
Capacity	Large Hall 850 seats The Cube Theatre 180 seats Teofil Vâlcu Hall 100 seats The Theatre Plant 100 seats
Production	Fântâna Blanduziei ^[1]^[2]
Opened	1840
Rebuilt	1894-1896
Architect	Fellner & Helmer
Website
www.teatrulnationaliasi.ro

The Iași National Theatre (Romanian: Teatrul Național Vasile Alecsandri) in Iași, Romania, is the oldest national theatre and one of the most prestigious theatrical institutions in Romania. In 1956, it was given the name of the renowned Romanian playwright and poet Vasile Alecsandri.

History

The old building of the National Theatre, 1846

One of the first theatrical performance in Romanian language, was organized by Gheorghe Asachi, and held in the capital of Moldavia, Jassy/Iași, on 27 September 1816.^[3] In 1834, a Romanian production took place in Iași on the stage of the Théâtre de varieté, built in 1832 for the French Fouraux troupe.

The National Theatre was founded on 15 May 1840, as the Great Theatre of Moldavia, when the Romanian language troupe, led by Costache Caragiali, was united with the French troupe, under a single direction of Vasile Alecsandri and the management of Costache Caragiali.^[4] On 22 December 1846, a new audience hall was inaugurated in the former mansion of Prince Mihail Sturdza, on the Hill of Copou.^[5]

Building

On the night of 17/18 February 1888, the theatre building was destroyed by the fire.

The efforts to build the new theatre edifice culminated in 1894 when a contract was signed with the Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who designed several theatres and palaces across Europe, including the theatres in: Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Timișoara and Chernivtsi (Romanian: Cernăuți).

The main auditorium

For the building work, a contract was signed with a Bucharest company, and the power station was built by a company from Berlin. The Theatre’s power station also supplied with electricity the 12 electric-arc lamps lighting the Theatre Square, marking the beginning of electrification in the city of Iași. The works to building took two years, and on 1 and 2 December 1896, the inauguration festivities took place with Flechtenmacher's National Overture, the vaudevilles Muza de la Burdujeni (The Muse from Burdujeni) by Costache Negruzzi and Cinel-cinel (The Riddle) by Vasile Alecsandri, as well as the verse comedy Poetul romantic (The Romantic Poet) by Matei Millo.

Nowadays, the building also hosts the Iași Romanian National Opera.

The Iași National Theatre building is listed in the National Register of Historic Monuments.^[6]

Architecture

With a Neoclassic exterior and a richly decorated interior in Rococo and Baroque styles, the building is considered one of the most elegant in Romania.^[7]

The main auditorium is organised in stalls, boxes and a balcony. The curtain painted by the Viennese M. Lenz, presents in the middle, an allegory of life with its three stages and, to the right side, the allegory of Romanian Unification. The left-hand side, painted by Lenz’s apprentice, differs from the rest of the curtain in style and colouring.

The ceiling and the iron curtain were painted by Alexander Goltz. The iron curtain, which completely separates the scene from the hall, shows ornaments placed symmetrically, while the ceiling has as a narrative basis the Archetypal Story, shown in paradisiacal allegories, with nymphs and cupids framed in rococo stucco.^[8]

The 1418 electric lights and the chandelier with 109 Venetian crystal lamps light up a playhouse with a unique architectural personality.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Theatre in Iaşi.

Official website

Landmarks in Iași

Historical	Balș House Braunstein Palace Calimachi Palace Cantacuzino-Pașcanu Palace Cuza Palace Grand Hotel Traian Grigore Sturdza Palace Metropolitan Palace Mihai Sturza Palace Neuschotz Palace Palace of Culture Roset-Roznovanu Palace

Cultural	Art Museum Dosoftei House Ethnographic Museum of Moldavia George Topîrceanu Memorial House Iași National Theatre Ion Creangă Bojdeuca Luceafărul Theatre Ludic Theatre Mihai Codreanu Memorial House Mihai Eminescu Museum Mihail Sadoveanu Memorial House Moldavia's History Museum Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra Jewish Community Museum Municipal Museum Museum of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Natural History Museum Nicolae Gane Memorial House Otilia Cazimir Memorial House Pogor House Poni-Cernătescu Memorial House Romanian National Opera Science and Technology Museum Tătărași Athenaeum Theatre Museum Union Museum

Monasteries, churches and synagogues	Armenian Church Aroneanu Monastery Barnovschi Church Bărboi Church Bârnova Monastery Bucium Monastery Cetățuia Monastery Frumoasa Monastery Galata Monastery Golia Monastery Great Synagogue Hlincea Monastery Metropolitan Cathedral Old Catholic Cathedral Old Metropolitan Cathedral Royal Saint Nicholas Church Saint Sava Church Saint Spiridon Church Socola Monastery Trei Ierarhi Monastery

Educational	Alexandru Ioan Cuza University Gheorghe Asachi Technical University George Enescu University of Arts Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ion Ionescu de la Brad University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Central University Library

Statues and monuments	Alexandru Dimitrie Xenopol Statue Alexandru Ioan Cuza Statue Attacking Cavalryman Statue Dosoftei Statue Gheorghe Asachi Statue Grigore III Ghica Monument Independence Statue Mihai Eminescu Statue Mihail Kogălniceanu Statue Miron Costin Statue Stephen the Great Statue Union Monument Vasile Alecsandri Statue Voievodes Statuary

Parks, squares and natural landmarks	Bârnova Lime Tree Botanical Garden Central Market Square Ciric Park Copou Gardens Eminescu's Linden Tree Exhibition Park Independence Square Mihai Eminescu Square Odd Poplars Alley Palace Square Palas Park Podu Roș Square Repedea Hill Fossil Site Theatre Square Union Square University Square Voievozilor Square

Sports venues	Emil Alexandrescu Stadium

Shopping	Era Shopping Park Felicia Shopping Centre Hala Centrală Iulius Mall Moldova Center Palas Mall

Infrastructure	Iași International Airport Central Railway Station Nicolina International Railway Station RATP

By type	Attractions Media in Iași

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