Republic Square
December 8, 2019Cascade and the Cafesjian Center for the Arts
December 8, 2019
Armenian National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Alexander Spendiaryan (Armenian: Ալեքսանդր Սպենդիարյանի անվան օպերայի և բալետի ազգային ակադեմիական թատրոն, Aleksandr Spendiaryani anvan operayi yev baleti azgayin akademiakan tatron, or simply known by locals as Օպերա, Opera) in Yerevan was officially opened on 20 January 1933, with Alexander Spendiaryan's Almast opera performance. The opera building was designed by the Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian. It consists of two concert halls: the Aram Khatchaturian concert hall with 1,400 seats and the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theatre with 1,200 seats.
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, e.g. in Russia, Spain, Lebanon, United States, Greece, Germany. In 1956, the theatre received the status of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.