The Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev is the largest in Ukraine. Its building was erected in 1901 according to the project of Victor Schroeter, an architect. The theater is located in the center of the capital at the address: Vladimirskaya street, 50.
History
The first season opened with the opera "Askold's Grave" by Verstovsky. The Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev was visited by P.I. Tchaikovsky. At the premiere of the opera Aleko, S. V. Rachmaninov attended. The play "The Snow Maiden" was visited by Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1896, there was a fire that completely destroyed the theater building. For this reason, a competition was announced for a new architectural design project. Victor Shreter's work won. The construction of the new building was begun in 1898. The revived Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev included four tiers, a mezzanine, an amphitheater and a stall. The building could accommodate 1,650 spectators. The
coat of arms of Kiev was installed above the entrance
, which depicted the archangel Michael, who is considered the patron saint of the city. But at the insistence of Theognost - the Kiev Metropolitan - the coat of arms was replaced with a special allegorical composition. The fact is that the clergyman considered the theater a sinful institution.
As a result, heraldic griffins appeared over the entrance, holding in their paws a lyre that acts as a symbol of musical art. The facade of the building was decorated with busts of T. Shevchenko, A. Serov and M. Glinka. They were presented to Kiev 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 named after 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 socialist reconstruction of the building. The theater was to acquire the features of the "proletarian style." However, perestroika affected only certain elements. In particular, busts of Russian composers were shot. Also, a two-story rehearsal room was attached to one of the sides of the building.
During the Great Patriotic War, the theater was evacuated to Ufa, after that - to Irkutsk. In 1944 he was returned to Kiev. In 1961, a room temperature control system appeared in the building. From 1983 to 1988, a major reconstruction of the premises took place. Restorers have made changes to the part that was behind the scenes. As a result, the number of rehearsal and dressing rooms increased. A special choral 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. A modern version of the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was embodied. It was complemented by the choreography of Edward Klug and the music of the rock band Radiohead. In 2012, the following modern ballet was added called Quatro (choreography by Edward Klug and music by Milko Lazar).
Kiev. Opera and Ballet Theater: poster
Recently, the following works have been staged on the stage: “Vienna Waltz”, “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 relevant information about upcoming performances can be found on the official website of the theater.