On the site of today’s Balkan Cinema, from 1909 to 1911, there was the seat of the Belgrade Opera (Opera na Bulevar) under the direction of Žarko Savić, and the Hotel at this location soon became known as “Opera”. This was the first opera theater in Belgrade, very important for the affirmation of opera art in Serbia.
The Opera House on Žarko Savić Boulevard began its short but significant run on December 2, 1909. Its founder and owner, the famous bass player Žarko Savić and his wife, the famous opera singer Sultana Cijukova Savić, hired the best Belgrade actors-singers, a small choir and an orchestra, investing their own money in all of this, and for two half-seasons, with considerable support from the audience, they performed more than 300 opera and operetta performances.[1]
At the end of September 1909, it was published in “Belgrade Newspapers”: “Former director of the ‘Comic Opera’ in Berlin, and former manager of the Osijek Theatre, Mr. Ž. Savić signed a five-year contract with the management of the Trade Association, and became a representative of the ʼBulevarʼ hotel, which will be converted into a modern theater.” It goes on to say that he “entered into negotiations with better forces and started putting together his orchestra, as well as a conductor”, then that “along with opera, operetta in a better genre will be cultivated”, as well as that “special attention will be paid to Serbian originals . Considerable repairs will be made in the old building, among other things, comfortable lodges and galleries, a buffet and a cloakroom will be erected.” At the end, it says that a competition has been announced for choir members as well.[2]
Among the plays, “The Sold Bride” (Bedžih Smetana), “Knez Ivo od Semberije” (Isidor Bajić) and the operetta “Barun Trenk” (Srećko Albini) stood out.
The opera stopped working in January 1911, due to accumulated financial problems.
[1] Vladimir Jovanović, text in the weekly Vreme: https://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=1758897
[2] Ana Pavlović, text on the RTS website: https://www.rts.rs/page/magazine/sr/story/2523/nauka/2703328/opera-na-bulevaru-zarka-savica.html