The Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre, officially the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre, stands on Rustaveli Avenue. On the initiative of Viceroy Mikhail Vorontsov, the first house was built under the Italian architect Giovanni Scudieri and opened in 1851, making it one of the oldest opera houses in Eastern Europe. On 11 October 1874 a fire broke out before a performance of Bellini's Norma destroying it completely. The new building in neo-Moorish style to plans by Viktor Schröter opened in 1896; despite its Oriental decoration, its layout, foyers and auditorium follow European models. Since 1937 the house has borne the name of the composer Zacharia Paliashvili. It is also home to the State Ballet of Georgia under Nina Ananiashvili. A six-year restoration was completed in January 2016.
The Tbilisi National Opera, opened in 1851 in Moorish style, is one of the oldest opera houses in Eastern Europe — the magnificent hall with its Oriental decorations is unique in European theatre architecture.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Tiflis, Georgia