The Estonian National Opera (Rahvusooper Estonia) in Tallinn grew out of the Estonia society, whose amateur stage became a professional theatre in 1906. The first operetta was staged in 1907, the first opera in 1908, and in 1928 Evald Aav's Vikerlased became the first Estonian opera. The Art Nouveau building by the Finnish architects Armas Lindgren and Wivi Lönn opened on 24 August 1913. Destroyed in a Soviet air raid in March 1944, it was rebuilt to designs by Alar Kotli and reopened in 1947. Since 1949 the house has been purely a music theatre, and it has carried its present name since 1998. Opera, operetta, musicals and ballet are performed in its 840-seat hall; the Estonian National Ballet and a symphony orchestra belong to the company. Arvo Volmer has been chief conductor since 2019.
The Estonian National Opera, founded in 1906, played a central role in the Singing Revolution of 1988 — when Estonia demanded its independence from the Soviet Union through peaceful singing.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Original name
- Rahvusooper Estonia