# Yerevan Opera Theatre

The Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Armenian: Ալեքսանդր Սպենդիարյանի անվան օպերայի և բալետի ազգային ակադեմիական թատրոն, romanized: Aleksandr Spendiaryani anvan operayi yev baleti azgayin akademiakan t’atron), simply known by locals as Opera, is an opera theatre in Yerevan. It officially opened on 20 January 1933, with a performance of Alexander Spendiaryan's opera Almast as its first show. The opera building was designed by architect Alexander Tamanian. It consists of two concert halls: the Aram Khatchaturian Concert Hall with 1,400 seats and the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theatre with 1,200 seats.

## Theatre

The ground-breaking of the Opera Theatre took place on 28 November 1930 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Soviet Armenia. On 20 January 1933, the building was officially opened. Soon after the theatre foundation, a ballet troupe was established. Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was the first ballet performance in 1935.
Based on Tamanian's design and under the supervision of his son the theatre hall was completed in 1939, and the opera building was named after Alexander Spendiaryan. Large-scale construction works did not finish until 1953, when the entire building was finally completed.
The opening of the theatre promoted the creation of new national operas and ballets. The first Armenian ballet was Happiness by Aram Khachaturian. On the basis of this ballet the composer soon created Gayane which has been performed all over the world. Many other Armenian composers have written operas and ballets. Over the years, these artists have worked at the theatre: singers Gohar Gasparyan, Tatevik Sazandaryan, Mihran Yerkat, Pavel Lisitsian, Haykanoush Danielyan, Nar Hovhannisyan, Gegham Grigoryan, Anahit Mekhitarian; conductors Konstantin Sarajev, Michael Tavrizyan, Aram Katanyan, Karen Durgaryan, Gianluca Marciano, Yuri Davtyan; ballet masters A. Petrosyan, M. Chmshkyan, Vanoush Khanamirian, Vilen Galstyan, Rudolf Kharatyan; painters Martiros Saryan, Minas Avetisyan.
Since 1935, the Armenian operas Anush by Armen Tigranian have been staged at the opera house. It was a great step in Armenian opera history. Anush remains a part of the repertoire of the theatre. One of sopranos currently performing this role is Mary Movsisyan.
Since it was opened, the Armenian National Opera & Ballet Theatre has performed more than 200 different operas and ballets by Armenian, Russian and Western European composers. The theatre company has performed in more than 20 countries, for example, in Russia, Spain, Lebanon, United States, Greece, and Germany. In 1956, the theatre received the status of National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
The theatre has also hosted concerts performed by Charles Aznavour, Ian Anderson, John McLaughlin, Akvarium and many others.
For the first time, the Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre will host a guest performance of «Giselle» by the English National Ballet. The performances are scheduled for May 10 and 11, 2024.

## Artistic directors

* Romanos Melikian
* Tigran Levonyan
* Ohan Durian
* Gegham Grigoryan
* Karen Durgaryan
* Constantine Orbelian (since 2016)

## Gallery

* The Opera House (foreground, left) with the Yerevan skyline
* Yerevan skyline with Opera House at dawn
* Green spaces and Swan Lake around the Opera House.
* The Opera House building at night.
* View of the rear facade.