Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Lietuvos nacionalinis operos ir baleto teatras
National Opera and Ballet Theatre building in 2022
Map
AddressA. Vienuolio g. 1
Vilnius
Lithuania
Coordinates54°41′21″N 25°16′41″E / 54.68917°N 25.27806°E / 54.68917; 25.27806
Capacityover 2000 seats
Construction
OpenedDecember 31, 1920; 103 years ago (1920-12-31)
Years active1920–present
ArchitectElena Nijolė Bučiūtė

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (LNOBT) (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalinis operos ir baleto teatras), founded as Operos vaidykla, is an opera house and ballet theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania.

History

Kaunas State Musical Theatre, original home of LNOBT

Operos vaidykla was founded in 1920 by the Society of Lithuanian Creators of Art in the temporary capital of Kaunas,[1] in the building now known as the Kaunas State Musical Theatre (opened in 1892).[2] The premiere, Verdi's La Traviata, was performed on 31 December of that year, which is now regarded as the anniversary of the theatre.[1]

The first ballet, Léo Delibes' Coppélia, was performed on 4 December 1925.[1]

Many artists of the theatre moved to the west during World War II before the second Soviet occupation in 1944. In 1948, the Opera and Ballet Theatre moved from Kaunas into an existing theatre building on J. Basanavičiaus Street in Vilnius.[1]

The theatre moved to a brand new building on the banks of the Neris River in 1974, designed by architect Elena Nijolė Bučiūtė (born 1930), after she had won an architectural competition in 1960.[3][4][5]

On 1 July 1998, the theatre was declared a national institution, and was officially renamed the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.[1]

A major renovation of the theatre has been undertaken, announced in 2022 with scheduled completion date before the beginning of the 2023/2024 theatre season. It has been costed at around 10m euros. The stage had been modernised since 1974, but services needed upgrading, so the new renovations included roof refurbishment and insulation; replacement of the glass of the external facade as well as windows and skylights; modernisation of the heating and hot water systems; and upgrading the ventilation and lighting systems. The changes reduce the energy consumption of the building by up to 45%.[6]

Location and description

The theatre is located at A. Vienuolio g. 1,[4] in the Old Town.[3]

As of 2022, Jonas Sakalauskas is director of the theatre.[6]

Performances

Apart from standard Western and Russian repertory works, the opera also performs national operas. Vytautas Klova's opera Pilėnai (1956), has since 2001 been performed outdoors during the summer at Trakai Island Castle.[7]

Bronius Kutavičius' opera Lokys (2000), after Prosper Mérimée's short story Lokis the bear, was commissioned by the Vilnius Festival. The ballet has performed several productions by Russian choreographer Boris Eifman, among them Red Giselle.

Facade of the building

See also

References

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre Vilnius
  1. ^ a b c d e "History". Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Theater Information Center". Kaunas state musical theatre. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre". Openhouse Vilnius. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre". Openhouse Vilnius. 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  5. ^ Jonathan Bousfield Baltic States (Rough Guides) 2004, p97 "Classical music, opera and ballet; Vilnius can boast two symphony orchestras, of which the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Orchestra (Lietuvos nacionalinis simfoninis orkestras) is marginally the more prestigious, receiving the lion's share of visiting soloists and also embarking on major international tours in its own right. The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra (Lietuvos valstybinis simfoninis orkestras) is a newer outfit that doesn't have quite the same pedigree, but it is also of the highest quality, as is the other jewel in Vilnius's musical crown, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (Nacionalinis operos ir baleto teatras)."
  6. ^ a b "10 million is launched. renovation of the Opera and Ballet Theater building worth EUR". 6 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Vytautas Klova's opera Pilėnai at Trakai Castle". Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.