Nizhny Novgorod State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after A. S. Pushkin — a Nizhny Novgorod theatre founded in 1931 as the Gorky Opera and Ballet Theatre. Located in Sovetsky District of Nizhny Novgorod. The auditorium seats 1,152. It is housed in the former People's House building, at the corner of Belinsky Street and Vaneev Street.
History
The resolution to establish an opera theatre in the city was adopted by the City Soviet in 1931. The People's House building was selected for conversion into the theatre. The People's House had been built in 1903 on the initiative of the Society for the Promotion of Primary Education in Nizhny Novgorod Governorate, with the support of Maxim Gorky. It was conceived as a "cultural hearth" in the provincial capital (a club, library, and amateur theatre). The building was constructed to a design by architect P. P. Malinovsky using private donations, the largest of which were made by Countess S. V. Panina and F. I. Shalyapin, who — at Maxim Gorky's request — gave a concert in aid of the construction.
On 1 July, a guest run by the Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre began, followed by the Leningrad Choral Kapella and the Kiev Musical Comedy Theatre. By 24 October the theatre had prepared its first production — Borodin's opera Prince Igor. It became a tradition to open the season with this work.
On 10 February 1937, the theatre was named after A. S. Pushkin. In 1994 it was awarded the title "Academic."
Since 1986, the all-Russian Pushkin Festival of Opera and Ballet "Boldino Autumn" has been held, with participants from other regions of Russia and, from the sixth festival onward, from abroad as well. Starting with the third festival, it became a tradition for participants to travel with concert performances to Bolshoe Boldino — the ancient Nizhny Novgorod ancestral estate of the Pushkin family.
Future of the Theatre
A new theatre building is planned for construction in Pushkina Park. The theatre will be built on the site of the Onegin restaurant and will be funded from the regional budget.
Contact Information
Address
- Nizhny Novgorod, 59 Belinsky Street
Phone
- 428-50-56, 428-70-35, 428-12-55