Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater
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The Lviv State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater of Solomiya Krushelnytska (Ukrainian: Львівський Державний академічний театр опери та балету ім. С. Крушельницької, L'vivs'kyi Derzhavnyi Akademichnyi Teatr Opery ta Baletu eemeni Solomii Krushel'nyts'koii) is an opera and theater house located in Lviv, Ukraine. The building was built between 1897 and 1900. The Lviv Opera was originally called the Big City Theater (Ukrainian: Великий міський театр, Velykyi Mis'kyi Teatr) until it was renamed in 1939.
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[edit] History
At the end of the 19th century, Lviv felt the need for a large city theater. In 1895, the city announced an architectural competition for best design, which attracted a large number of participants.[1]
An independent jury unhesitatingly chose the design by Zygmunt Gorgolewski, a graduate of Berlin Building Academy and the Director of Lviv higher art-industrial school. Gorgolewski pleasantly surprised the jury by proposing the center of the city, which was densely built-up, as a construction site. In order to solve the space problem, the architect boldly proposed to enclose the Poltva River underground, and instead of the traditional foundation use a solid concrete base, for the first time in Europe.
In June 1897, the first stone was placed. Gorgolewski directed construction, earthwork and decorating tasks, employing best masters from Lviv and abroad. Local materials were used for the construction. Vienna manufactured marble forms, whereas Belgium provided special linen for painting the foyer. Austrian "Siemens" was responsible for assembling the electric lights, while Polish "Sanok" ensured mechanization of the stage.[1]
Construction continued for three years. Funding came from Lviv, the surrounding communities, and from voluntary donations. The cost of the works totaled 2.4 million Austrian crowns.
[edit] Grand opening
The Lviv Opera opened on October 4, 1900. The cultural elite–painters, writers, and composers, as well as delegations from various European theaters–attended the opening festivities. In the evening, the newly built theater held its first performance: a lyric-dramatic opera, Janek by W. Żeleński, about the life of Carpathian mountain-dwellers. The major part was sung by a famous Ukrainian tenor, Oleksandr Myshuha, for whom it was specially written.
[edit] Architectural style
Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater is built in the classical tradition with the use of the forms and details of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, also known as the Viennese neo-Renaissance style. The stucco mouldings and oil paintings on the walls and ceilings of the multi-tiered auditorium and foyer give it a richly festive appearance. Lviv Opera's imposing facade is opulently decorated with numerous niches, Corinthian columns, pilasters, balustrades, cornices, statues, reliefs and stucco garlands. Standing in niches on either side of the main entrance are allegorical figures representing Comedy and Tragedy sculpted by Antoni Popiel and Tadeusz Baroncz; figures of the muses embellish the top of the cornice. The building is crowned by large bronze statues, symbolizing Glory, Poetry and Music.[2]
The theater, beautifully decorated inside and outside, became the centerfold of the achievements in sculpture and painting of Western Europe at the end of the 19th century. The representatives of Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater works of arts are sculptors: P. Viitovich, А. Popel, Е. Pеch, and Т. Baronch, and painters: Т. Popel, М. Herasimovich, Т. Ribkovskiy, Z. Rozvadovskiy, S. Dembitskiy, and S. Reihan.
[edit] References
- Inline
- ^ a b The Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet official website. History: facts History of the building of the theater
- ^ Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre, Lviv Best Portal Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater architectural description
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[edit] External links
- (Ukrainian)/(English)/(Russian) The Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater - Official website
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