Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev: History and Modernity

The Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev is the largest in Ukraine. Its building was erected in 1901 according to the project of Victor Schroter - the architect. The theater is located in the center of the capital at: Vladimirskaya Street, 50.

History

The first season opened with the opera "Askold's grave" Verstovsky. The theater of opera and ballets in Kiev was visited by PI Tchaikovsky. At the premiere of the opera "Aleko" Sergei Rakhmaninov visited. The play "The Snow Maiden" was visited by Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1896, a fire broke out, which completely destroyed the theater building. For this reason, they announced a competition for a new project of an architectural structure. Victor Schreter's work won. The construction of the new building was started in 1898. The revived Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev included four tiers, a mezzanine, an amphitheater and a parterre. The building could accommodate 1650 spectators. Above the entrance was the coat of arms of Kiev, which depicted the archangel Michael, who is considered the patron of the city. But at the insistence of Feognost - the Metropolitan of Kiev - the coat of arms was replaced by a special allegorical composition. The fact is that the clergyman considered the theater to be a sinful institution.

As a result, the heraldic griffins appeared above the entrance, which in the paws hold the lyre, which acts as a symbol of musical art. The facade of the building was decorated with busts of T. Shevchenko, A. Serov and M. Glinka. Their Kiev was presented by artists of the Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg. With the onset of the Soviet era, the Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev was nationalized. He was given the name of K. Liebknecht. The name then changed several times. Since 1939 the theater bears the name of the poet Taras Shevchenko. In the thirties, there was a discussion of the project of the socialist reconstruction of the building. The theater was to acquire features of the "proletarian style." However, the restructuring affected only individual elements. In particular, busts of Russian composers were removed. Also, a two-story room of rehearsal rooms was attached to one side of the building.

During the Great Patriotic War the theater was evacuated to Ufa, then to Irkutsk. In 1944 he was returned to Kiev. In 1961, a control system for the temperature of the hall appeared in the building. From 1983 to 1988 there was a major reconstruction of the premises. Restorers made changes to the part that was behind the scenes. As a result, the number of rehearsal rooms and make-up rooms increased. A special choir class was also equipped.

Modern productions

The repertoire of the Opera and Ballet Theater (Kiev) in 2012 was supplemented by the ultra-modern ballet Radio and Juliet. The modern version of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" was embodied. It was supplemented by the choreography of Edward Kluge and the music of the rock band Radiohead. In 2012, added the next modern ballet called Quatro (choreography by Edward Kluga and music by Milko Lazar).

Kiev. Theater of opera and ballet: poster

Recently, the following works have been staged on the stage: The Vienna Waltz, The Sleeping Beauty, The Wedding of Figaro, Madame Butterfly, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Daphnis and Chloe, "Giselle", "The Tale of Tsar Saltan". More current information about the nearest performances can be found on the official website of the theater.