Overview:

is a major performing art venue located in the capital city of Baku. It is the primary home of Azerbaijan’s opera and ballet companies, and regularly stages international and national productions. In addition to major productions, the theater also provides a platform for Azerbaijani folk dancers, folk singers, and musicians. It also hosts performances of jazz, classical, modern, and national music and is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Azerbaijan
Prominent Features:

, one of the most prominent features of the Baku skyline is the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Located in the heart of the city, the neo-classical building is an impressive 19th-century structure built in the style of Moscow's Bolshoi and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky theaters. The theater is home to some of the best performances of opera and ballet in Azerbaijan, including Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, The Barber of Seville, and The Sleeping Beauty. It is also used throughout the year for a range of other cultural events, such as concerts, cultural festivals, and symposiums. The red-domed building stands out amongst the other city buildings, and the ornate internal decorations make it one of the most impressive venues in Azerbaijan. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Azerbaijan.

History:

The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in Baku was founded in 1920, making it one of the oldest performing arts venues in the region. The first performance, Vakil Bayramov’s opera ‘Shah Ismayil’, was staged at the newly opened theater in October of that year. Over the following decades the theater has grown to become one of the most important cultural and artistic venues in Azerbaijan, playing host to a range of high profile performances by some of the world’s most renowned opera, ballet and symphonic companies. Throughout its history, the theater has a shaped a vibrant performing arts culture in Baku, inspiring generations of Azerbaijanis to pursue artistic expression and creativity. The theater’s origins lie in the years immediately following World War I, when the newly independent Azerbaijan Republic was emerging as a cultural hub in the Caucasus. Led by the renowned architect Ahmet Hajibeyli, the Azerbaijani government spearheaded an ambitious project to renovate two buildings in Baku's city center - the former Russian Dramatic Theater and the tabliq located on what is now Istiqlaliyyat Street, to become the first permanent opera and ballet theater in the Azerbaijan Republic. In October 1920, the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater opened its doors for the first time, with the staging of Vakil Bayramov’s opera ‘Shah Ismayil’, which was met with great reception from the public. In the decades since, the theater has become an iconic symbol of Azerbaijani culture, hosting a broad range of high profile performances by nationally and internationally renowned opera, ballet and symphonic companies. The theater has nurtured generations of Azerbaijani performing artists - singers, dancers, musicians and actors alike - and continues to be a major cultural influence in Baku. The theater was officially renamed the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater in 1968, when it was taken under the patronage of the Azerbaijani government. It continues to be a major cultural and performing arts venue in Baku, hosting international artists and companies from around the world. Visit one of the famous monuments of Azerbaijan with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater is the oldest theater of its kind in the former Soviet Union, having opened in 1910. 2. The theater is home to the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Company, which includes 300 singers, dancers, and musicians. 3. The repertoire of the company includes some of the most famous operas and ballets from around the world, as well as Azerbaijani national folk, classical symphony, and opera-ballet compositions. 4. The theater hosts international art festivals and star performances from renowned foreign and domestic artists every year. 5. The building of Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater was designed by Azerbaijani architect and educator Mikayil Huseynov and opened in 1911. 6. It is a well-known landmark in Baku and has been declared a national monument. 7. During the Soviet era, the building was used for many important state occasions and celebrations. 8. The façade of the theater is decorated with numerous sculptures of famous Azerbaijani composers and musicians. 9. In 2013, the theatre underwent a two-year renovation, with funds provided by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. 10. The renovated structure now includes modern lighting, air conditioning systems, and comfort features. One of the historical monuments of Azerbaijan, it tells the story of a bygone era