The Alexander Spendiaryan National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (), simply known by locals as , is an opera theatre in

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

. It officially opened on 20 January 1933, with a performance of Alexander Spendiaryan's opera ''

Almast ''Almast'' ( meaning ''diamond'') is the only opera of the Armenian composer Alexander Spendiaryan. History In 1916 Spendiaryan met Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanian, who suggested three of his poems "Anush", "Parvana" and "The Siege of the Tmbouk ...

'' as its first show. The opera building was designed by architect

Alexander Tamanian Alexander Tamanian (; March 4, 1878 – February 20, 1936) was a Russian-born Armenian Neoclassical architecture, neoclassical architect, well known for his work in the city of Yerevan. Life and work Tamanian was born in the city of Yekaterinod ...

. It consists of two concert halls: the

Aram Khatchaturian Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (; 1 May 1978) was a Soviet Armenian composer and conductor. He is considered one of the leading Soviet composers. Khachaturian was born and raised in Tbilisi (now the capital of Georgia). He moved to Moscow in 1921 fo ...

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 The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (ArSSR), also known as Soviet Armenia, or simply Armenia, was one of the Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republics of the Soviet Union, located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Soviet Armenia ...

. On 20 January 1933, the building was officially opened. Soon after the theatre foundation, a ballet troupe was established. ''

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoje ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, links=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failu ...

'' by

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popula ...

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 Alexander Afanasyevich Spendiarov (, November 1, 1871, Kakhovka, Russian Empire – May 7, 1928, Yerevan, Armenia) was a Russian composer and conductor of Armenian descent, founder of Armenian national symphonic music. Biography Alexander S ...

. 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 Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (; 1 May 1978) was a Soviet Armenians, Armenian composer and conductor. He is considered one of the leading Music of the Soviet Union#Classical music of the Soviet Union, Soviet composers. Khachaturian was born and rai ...

. 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 Gohar Mikayeli Gasparyan (14 December 192416 May 2007, ), also known as the "Armenian nightingale", was an Armenian opera singer. Life Born in an Armenian family in Cairo, Egypt, Gasparyan studied at a Music Academy in the city. In 1948, she ...

Tatevik Sazandaryan Tatevik Sazandaryan (; 20 August 1916 – 6 October 1999), was a Soviet and Armenian operatic mezzo-soprano who became a member of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union in 1958. She performed as a soloist at the Yerevan Opera Theatre from 1937 to ...

, Mihran Yerkat,

Pavel Lisitsian Pavel Gerasimovich Lisitsian (, ; November 6, 1911 – July 6, 2004), was a Soviet baritone opera singer who performed in the Bolshoi Opera, Moscow from 1940 until his retirement from stage in 1966. People's Artist of the USSR (1956). Biography ...

, Haykanoush Danielyan, Nar Hovhannisyan,

Gegham Grigoryan Gegham Grigorian (also written Grigoryan, ; ; 29 January 1951 – 23 March 2016) was an Armenian operatic tenor. Biography Gegham Grigorian was born in Yerevan and graduated from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. He was a student of Professo ...

, Anahit Mekhitarian; conductors Konstantin Sarajev, Michael Tavrizyan, Aram Katanyan, Karen Durgaryan, Gianluca Marciano, Yuri Davtyan; ballet masters A. Petrosyan, M. Chmshkyan,

Vanoush Khanamirian Vanoush Gerasimich Khanamirian (, November 5, 1927 – October 5, 2011) was an Armenian ballet, traditional and folkloric dance choreographer. Career Khanamirian started as a ballet dancer, his first major performance was in the wedding scene of ...

, Vilen Galstyan,

Rudolf Kharatyan Roudolf Kharatian (, born April 1, 1947, in Yerevan) is an Armenian ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher, director and painter. He is a People's Artist of Armenia (2012). He is the Principal Choreographer and artistic director of the National Ba ...

; painters

Martiros Saryan Martiros Saryan (; ; – 5 May 1972) was an Armenian painter, People's Artist of the USSR (1960), member of the USSR Academy of Fine Arts (1947), president of the Artists' Union of Soviet Armenia (1945-1951), the founder of a modern Armenian nat ...

Minas Avetisyan Minas Avetisyan (, July 20, 1928 — February 24, 1975) was an Armenian painter. Biography Minas Avetisyan was born in the village of Jajur, Armenia. His mother, Sofo, was a daughter of the priest from Kars. His father, Karapet, was a smith f ...

. Since 1935, the Armenian operas '' Anush'' by

Armen Tigranian Armen Tigranian or Tigranyan or Dikranian (; 26 December 1879, Alexandropol – 10 February 1950, Tbilisi) was an Armenian composer, conductor and sociocultural activist. His best-known work is '' Anoush'', premiered in Alexandropol in 1912. It ...

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 Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

, United States,

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

, 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 Charles Aznavour ( ; ; ; born Shahnur Vaghinak Aznavourian; 22 May 1924 – 1 October 2018) was a Armenians in France, French singer and songwriter of Armenian descent. Aznavour was known for his distinctive vibrato tenor voice: clear and ringi ...

Ian Anderson Ian Scott Anderson (born 10 August 1947) is a British musician best known for being the chief vocalist, Flute, flautist, and acoustic guitarist of the British rock band Jethro Tull (band), Jethro Tull. He is a multi-instrumentalist who also p ...

, 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 English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin as London Festival Ballet and based in London, England. Along with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet and Scott ...

. The performances are scheduled for May 10 and 11, 2024.

Artistic directors

Romanos Melikian Romanos Hovakimi Melikian (; October 1, 1883 – March 30, 1935) was an Armenian composer, conductor, and educator. He played a significant role in the developing Armenian classical music and established Armenian musical institutions such as Kom ...

* Tigran Levonyan *

Ohan Durian Ohan Durian or Duryan (; September 8, 1922, Jerusalem - January 6, 2011, Yerevan) was an Armenian conductor and composer. Life and career Ohan Durian was born Hanna Khatchadurian in Jerusalem. From 1939 to 1945 he studied composition, conductin ...

*Karen Durgaryan *

Constantine Orbelian Constantine Garrievich Orbelian, Jr. (, , born San Francisco, 27 August 1956) is an American conductor and pianist of Armenian and Russian descent. He is named after his paternal uncle Konstantin Orbelyan, a major Armenian composer. Constantine Or ...

(since 2016)

Gallery

File:Yerevan at night (50mm).jpg, The Opera House (foreground, left) with the Yerevan skyline File:Yerevan skyline at dawn.jpg, Yerevan skyline with Opera House at dawn File:Parc-opera.jpg, Green spaces and Swan Lake around the Opera House. File:Opera at night.jpg, The Opera House building at night. File:Ópera, Ereván, Armenia, 2016-10-03, DD 13.jpg, View of the rear facade.

References

External links

About Yerevan Opera Theatre
{{Authority control Opera houses in Armenia Ballet companies in Armenia 1933 establishments in the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic Tourist attractions in Yerevan Buildings and structures in Yerevan Theatres completed in 1933 Music venues completed in 1933

Theatre

Artistic directors

Gallery

See also

References

External links