Opera house, Tourist attraction
Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre
Alexander Tamanyan's classical opera house in the heart of Yerevan has staged Armenian and international opera and ballet since 1933, with performances on most nights in an amphitheatre of more than 1,070 seats.
The story
The theatre first raised its curtain on January 20, 1933, and Tamanyan's design won international recognition at the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris. The building holds the opera on one side and the Philharmonic Hall on the other, and it is lit up in the evening. Inside, a Soviet-era interior, spacious halls and a grand stage frame a hall with strong acoustics and a full orchestra in the pit. The repertoire leans on national works such as Tigranyan's Anoush, Khachaturian's Gayane and Masquerade, and the ballet-oratorio David of Sassoun, alongside Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Traviata, La Bohème and Carmen. Recitals fill a smaller hall. Guided tours lead backstage and down to the basement where props are stored, and drinks and treats are sold during intermissions.
Good to know
TAGGG AI- ✦Tickets are sold online and at the box office, which takes cash only, and shows can sell out hours before curtain.
- ✦Choose central seats around rows 5 to 16, since side seats cut off the stage and front rows can be obstructed.
- ✦Smart casual dress is acceptable for performances.
