Articles

The opera and ballet theater

The Theater of Opera and Ballet in Odessa was built in 1809 according to the plan of famous French architect T.de Thomon.

The Theater of Opera and Ballet is by right called one of the most ancient theaters on the territory of Ukraine.

The grand opening of the theater took place on February 10, 1810. Unfortunately in 1873 the old theater was burned and there was no chance to reconstruct it.

The new plan of the theater was presented by famous architects from Vienna F.Felner and G.Gelmer. Almost 11 years had passed before the first stone was laid that began the building of the new theater. The opening of the new building took place on October 1, 1887.

In March 1925 there was another fire as a result the new stage was completely lost and the audience sits were damaged. The theater was reconstructed in very short terms and the plays were presented on its stage within a year.

During the World War II the building of the theater was saved by miracle: the fascists were planning to blow it up after their victory. O n the balcony of the theater there is a memorial tablet that tells us that on April 10, 1944 the city was free from the fascists and the flag was raised on the top of the building. In 1926 the theater got the status of Academic theater of Ukraine.

On august 31, 2007 the president of Ukraine made an order to attribute the title of National to the theater of opera and ballet in Odessa. The theater is interesting not only by its architecture but also by its rich biography.

The theater has a great role in developing the musical culture on the South of our country. Many famous musicians performed their works here: Tchaikovskiy, Rimskiy-Korsakov, Rakhmaninov, Izai, SArassate and many others. Many artists also played on this stage : Shaliapin, Solomia Krushelnitska, Antonina Nezhdanova, Leonid Sobinov, Titto Ruffo, Battistinni, the first prima-ballerina of the world Anna Pavlova was also dancing on this stage! Today the troupe of the theater counts 50 people. It includes two Honoured Artists of Ukraine – Andrey Mussorin and Elena Kamenskih – participants of the Farewell tourney with Rudolph Nuriiev.