Opera and Ballet Theatre (Minsk)

Opera And Ballet Theatre (Minsk)

The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus is located in a park in the Trinity Banlieu of the city of Minsk. Local people call it the "Opierny Teatr" (Belarusian) or the "Opera and Ballet Theatre". It opened on 15 May 1933 but it first did not have its own building for presenting at the Belarusian Drama Theatre building until 1938.

The present theatre building was opened in 1939. It was designed by Belarus architect from Leningrad Iosif Langbard whose original design was only partially implemented and some design details were omitted yielding to financial and other problems. The theatre building has reliefs by Zair Azgur.

In 1996 the State Theater was divided into two independent theatres: the National Academic Bolshoi Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus and the National Academic Opera Theatre of Belarus. The building was renovated and it reopened in 2009. Many sculptures were added around the theatre, its stage was slightly moved and audience space expanded. The latest lighting and motion equipment was added while adhering to the original design. The ballet company is considered one of the foremost companies in the world.