Odessa Gallery
The Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater
The existence of the theatre in the city of Odessa began from the first days of the city's foundation. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is entitled to be called the elder among a great number of cultural institutions. Odessa strived for the right of building the theatre in 1804, and in 1809 it was already built. On the 10th of February 1810 the first performance took place. But, unfortunately, in 1873 an old building was completely burnt. The restoration was out of the question. It was suggested to draw up a draft of a new city theatre to Viennese famous architects Felner and Helmer. Eleven years have passed since laying of the first brick into the foundation of the new theatre building. And the theatre opening took place on the 1st of October 1887. The reason for the horseshoe-shape is the 20 emergency exits arranged around the auditorium so that in case of fire everyone has nearly the same way and enough space to get out.
The interior of this impressive structure, which ranks in grandeur with Milan's La Scala and Moscow's Bolshoi, is richly decorated in Louis XVI style. Exquisite inside decor in the style of Viennese baroque blended with elements of the Italian Renaissance and French rococo, sculptural groups taken from Greek mythology, the stucco moldings and guilt friezes combined with the red velvet of the seats and boxes — all this tends to create a special atmosphere. The theater possesses a unique hall with excellent acoustics, luxurious lobby, really royal staircase and mirrors. The horseshoe-formed circles of the hall yield a good view of the stage from all points of the hall. You can admire the exterior of the theater for hours: its central and side portico, sculptures and the magnificent dome. The central portico is crowned with a picturesque sculpture group, representing the goddess of theater, whose chariot is pulled by four panthers. Below the sculpture you can see the two large groups that personify dance and music.
Magnificent Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater is once echoed with concerts conducted by Peter Tchaikovsky and ballets featuring Anna Pavlova. Once Odessa was visited by the most prominent musicians of the world such as Ferenz Liszt and great conductors such as Chaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rakhmaninov and other past masters of classical music, who gave brilliant concerts in the city opera.
The Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater is one of the best in Europe, goes after Vienna Opera House from architecture viewpoint.
