Opera House, Kiev (must see)

The dawn of the Ukrainian opera came in 1867 when Ferdinand Berger staged the first opera show in Kiev. He also succeeded at bringing into the country famous opera singers and musicians to form a local troupe. The latter would perform regularly at the city theater until 1897, when a great fire destroyed most of the building.

Immediately after the fire, the municipal authorities announced architectural contest for a new opera house to be built. The winner, Neoclassical-style project by Victor Schröter, proved optimal for both performers and spectators. In 1901, the new theater was completed and its inauguration was celebrated with a special performance done by local artists.

During the 20th century, the opera house changed its name several times. Today, it is known as the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theater named after T. H. Shevchenko, the renowned Ukrainian poet and painter.

Before and shortly after World War I, the venue enjoyed wide popularity across Europe and was the third major opera house in the Russian Empire. After the so-called “Orange” revolution of 1991, the Opera House has been renovated and painted its original dark-green and beige colors.