Opera singer Ľudovít Ludha had to leave the SND Opera together with dozens of artists and employees in 2022. He was fired by the director at the time, Matej Drlička, who, according to the portal, stood up for actors such as Jozef Vajda and Diana Mórová. The artist, who sang on world stages, including for the Queen of Spain, has now reacted to the recent changes in the Slovak National Theater (SND).
As part of the announced consolidation, they lost their permanent place in the drama Martin Šalacha, Daniel Žulčák, Roman Poláčik, Anna Magdaléna Hroboňová and Táňa Pauhofová. All the artists remain in the theater, but their contracts change and they become externs. “I can’t say that I sympathize with them, or that I find them particularly sympathetic, but I have to stand up for them. If I want to consolidate, I won’t fire a young guy whose wife is on maternity leave.” Ludha said flatly.
The former member of the SND Opera also has his own opinion about mixing politics and actors’ performances. “Maroš Kramár gave a statement that they comment on things because they are more numerous than the general population. That’s true. They work with the ideas of the greatest playwrights who were the brain titans of that time. It is a fact that when someone works with these texts all his life, he can get the impression that they are his thoughts. But it is not often that the stamp of the playwright is also imprinted on the person who reproduces it.” he put on the actor harshly.
“No one prevents anyone from having their political opinion. But why should the CIS stage be used for that? Every actor or singer has his audience. If I know the company is divided, what’s the point of weaning off half of your viewers and fans? I love drama, I liked Czech actors, Menšík, Sovák, Brodsky. And I don’t care at all what their political views were. What for? After all, they have a different mission. I think that the actors are doing themselves a disservice,” added the opera singer.
