The Opera and Ballet Theater is one of the outstanding places in Tbilisi, which takes you back in time with its performances, and you become a part of its history to some extent.

Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater is located on Rustaveli Avenue, the main street of Tbilisi. It was founded in 1851 and is one of the attractions of the city. On April 15, 1847, the foundation was laid for the first building of the Opera House designed by Vorontsov, which was being built for four years under the direction of the Italian architect Giovanni Scudieri. However, the mentioned building was damaged twice by the fire, and the interior of the theater was also completely destroyed. After the fire, the theater building was thoroughly rebuilt, although the authors of the reconstruction were able to preserve the eastern, pseudo-Moorish style of the building.

Opera and ballet performances, as well as various concerts and events are held in the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater. Along with world opera and ballet classics, the theater's repertoire has featured the works of Georgian composers: Shalva Mshvelidze, Andria Balanchivadze, Alexi Machavariani, Revaz Gabichvadze, Otar Taktakishvili, Davit Toradze, Revaz Laghidze, Bidzina Kvernadze, Gia Kancheli.

It should also be noted that the first Georgian opera presented on the stage of the Tbilisi Opera House was "Christine" by Revaz Gogniashvili (June 17, 1918), although the operas staged on the stage of the Tbilisi Opera House in 1919 are considered to be the first classical examples of this genre: Dimitri Arakishvili's "The Tale of Shota Rustaveli", Zakaria "Abesalom and Eter" by Paliashvili and "Keto and Kote" by Viktor Dolidze.

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Author: Luka Parulava

Upload date: 2023-12-27