The opera ensamble of Janko Borodac Theatre in Kosice, Slovakia was established in 1945. Prior to its origin the cultural life of the town had been enriched by guest performances of various theatre and operas groups. These together with the enthusiastic musicians of the town created the background for the rise of a professional theatre. The foundation of the stable theater for opera, ballet and drama was laid as early as in 1789 but the stone building of the theatre obtained its ultimate appearance, with neorenaissance and neobaroque elements, only between 1897-1899. A welcome partner of the great stage is the chamber studio "Smer" - a building built about 1900 in the fin-de-siecle style. The opera ensemble studied a great number of various operas of foreign, Slovak and Czech composers of the 17th to 20th centuries during its half-century existence. However, it performs regularly works of best known operetta and musical composers, too. During a theatre season, which usually lasts for 10 months, it makes 4-6 first-night performances and a total of 200 performances. The opera ensemble has enjoyed since its very beginning the privilege of having excellent soloists, and their creations are still a driving force for the new members of the company. Many of the singers of the opera ensemble of the Theatre became soloists of international fame and they started their successful career here (I. Jakubek, G. Zelenay, P. Maurery, S. Kopcak, I. Kirilova). The opera company has always been confronting its results with those of abroad and with foreign soloists. In the recent years we have enjoyed the guest performances of the following singers: S. E. Ferri, G. C. Ruggieri (Italy), I. Cohen (Israel), F. Montagud, J. Sempere (Spain), K. A. Slupskaja (Russia), R. Rosenberg, P. de Vaughn, S. Lombana (USA), B. Sanejko (Poland), and conductors: S. Silivestro, G. Quadrini, W. Attanasi (Italy) and others. The choir and the the orchestra of the J. B. Theatre is composed of the graduates of different musical schools who under the leadership of our and foreign conductors take part regularly in theatre and music festivals. The composers and conductors like Tibor Freso and Ladislav Holoubek entered in the history of the theatre as ones who professionalized the work with the orchestra and Stefan Gajdos who gained recognition for very successful performances of operettas of J. Strauss, F. Lehar, E. Kalman, etc. Boris Velat has been conducting in the theatre for 40 years. He is conductor with a fine feeling for dramatic expression, and from the musical point of view he is a connoisseur of cantilena. His domain is the Italian opera, especially Verdi's and Puccini's operas. But he performed other operas of foreign composers on the stage of this theatre (G. Bizet, P. I. Tchaikovky, C. M. Weber, etc.), as well as worksof Slovak and Czech composers (B. Smetana, A. Dvorak, L. Janacek, B. Martinu, E. Suchon, J. Cikker, J. Gresak, J. Benes, etc.). His younger colleague, the conductor Jan Drietomsky focuses his attention to refinement and subtlety of the musical expression. He performed with the opera company both classical and romantic works.

The opera ensemble of the theatre has been cooperating with the Slovak Television and Radio, as well as with foreign companies. The members of the ensemble have successfully performed abroad (1959, 1967, 1982, 1983, 1984 - Germany; 1972, 1981, 1992 - Italy; 1981, 1984 - the Netherlands; 1992 - Spain; 1994 - France and other countries. At present the opera and operetta of Kosice Theatre have in repertoire stages performances, which are successfully performed at Kosice Theatre and on tour.

see also picture gallery