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Theatres and Operas in Lviv

Lviv is a culturally diverse city and aswell as a wide range of churches, cafes, museums and restaurants it has a good selection of theatres. All theatres are functioning with regular shows ranging from performances in Ukrainian through to German and Italian.

For the last two hundred years, aristocracy from Ukraine and surrounding countries such as Poland and Russia would regularly visit Lviv to see the lavish performances at its two prime operas (The Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Maria Zankovetska Theatre). Things haven't now and in the prime summer months, thousands flock to Lviv's theatres and operas.

Probably the most famous theatre and the image used most often to represent Lviv, is the Lviv Opera and Ballet theatre. This iconic building is undoubtedly one of the most impressive in the city and a major tourist attraction.

Below are a list of the most notable Opera and Theatre Houses in Lvov city:

Click on any of the above titles for Opera and Theatre Houses in Lviv for more information:

• The Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre
• The Maria Zankovetska Theatre
• Ukrainian Children's Theatre
• The Les Kurbas Theatre
• Voskresinia Theatre

The Lviv Opera House is without a doubt the pride and joy of many Lviv residents and probably one of the finest opera houses in Eastern Europe. You will see the Lviv Opera House on all 20 Hr. bank notes and on the city emblem. Founded in 1897 and originally named as Stadtisches Theater when Lviv city was part of the Austr-Hungarian Empire (and known as Lemsburg).

It was opened on the 4th October it opened its doors with a performance Zelenski's Opera: 'Janek'. Rumour has it that Svobody Square was crowded with people trying to get a seat for the opening night the opera staff simply couldn't cop with the demand! After the impressive opening night, the Lviv Opera Theatre became a focal point of Lviv life throughout the early 1900s with the royal, rich and famous all visiting for the performances.

The Lviv Opera House has 1000 seats and its stage curtain weighs over 8 tones. The opera was boldly designed by Zigmund Gorgolevsky and incorporates the River Poltva which runs underneath building. Gorgolevsky was one of best graduates of the Berlin Building Academy and Director of the Lviv Higher Art Industrial school, so who better for the job of designing Lviv's most distinctive building.

The auditorium is split into 10 'sections' which are: Grace, Music, Dance, Critics, Drama, Inspiration, Bacchanalia, Virginity, Illusions and Truth. Each area has relevant oil paintings depicting various scenes to do with that subject.

The styling in the Opera house is lavish throughout; expansive marble floors, luxury velvet seats, gold leaf gilt, colonnades, marble sculptures, detailed paintings…the building itself is a work of art. If you intend to visit, take a trip to the Hall of Mirrors which is located on the first floor of the building.

The foyer of the Lviv opera house has been designed to impress visitors the very moment they enter the building. It follows the same principle of the auditorium by having various themes on the walls: Suffering, Self-sacrifice, Freedom, Joy, Sadness, Beauty Triumph, Music and Dance.

One of the very first performances of Swan Lake was done in the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre and since then, countless other performances have happened. There are shows in English, Russian, Polish, Ukrainian and Italian. Meetings between Presidents of Central Europe happen every two years in the Opera House.

Opening Times are from 12 noon and from 6pm and the Theatre is located on Svobody Square.

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The Maria Zankovetska Drama Theatre is the oldest theatre in Ukraine and was once the largest in Europe. Built in 1834, it was the dream of Count Stanislav Scarbek. During the two World Wars, the theatre was affected and has been renovated a number of times.

It has been the base of the Ukrainian Philharmonic Society, which moved during the Second World War to Kiev.

Unlike the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Maria Zankovetska Theatre focuses primarily on Ukrainian National Theatre, although there are sometimes foreign plays happening. But for those wanting a truly Ukrainian experience, this theatre is the place to go.

Address: No. 1 Lesya Ukraina Street

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Founded in the 1920s, the National Ukrainain Theatre moved from its originally base in Kharkov to Lviv. It regularly holds performances for children and/or performances with child actors.

There are regular performances of Grimm's fairytales and also famous Ukrainian plays for children, including T. Shevechenko's "Nazar Stodolya" and D. Herasymchuk's "Knyazhich Lev".

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The Les Kurbas Theatre in Lviv is probably one of Ukraine's most critically acclaimed theatres. Set up by its namesake, Les Kurbas in 1918, it was designed to challenge the older and stuffier theatres in the country.

To quote Kurbas and his entourage, we are "newly trained...stuck amid old repertoires and longing for some more." At the time, the majority of operas were only showing classical performances such as Shakespeare and similar works from Russian playwrights. Kurbas wanted a much more diverse range of theatre with energetic young actors and new playwrights.

The Les Kurbas Theatre is also known for its workshops and has collaborated in joint projects and workshops at the Gardzience Center of Theatre Studies (Poland), The Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski (Italy), Anatoly Vasiliev"s Studio at the School of Dramatic Art (Russia) and The Saratoga International Theatre Institute (New York). Additionally, the theatre conducts workshops throughout Europe and America.

A biannual festival in Lviv happens at this theatre, entitled 'Theatre: Method and Practice'.

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The Lviv Voskresinnia Theatre was founded in 1990 by Yaroslav Fedoryshyn and group of young actors from various cities of Ukraine. They all came to Lviv as it is widely regarded as the cultural centre of Ukraine. The theatre quickly became famous for its very distinct and expressive form of acting and soon was being hailed by critics.

The Theatre opens up new horizons to Ukrainian spectators, staging new plays for the first time in Ukraine from all around the world. As with the Les Kurbas Theatre, it strives to broaden the artistic awareness of the audience by adapting traditional stage techniques. A visit to the Voskrennia Theatre is a must for any fan of the stage.

The "Voskresinnia" Theatre Company has taken part in several international theatre festivals in Poland, Scotland, Serbia and Latvia and traditionally hosts the "Golden Lion" festival, which takes place in Lviv every two years.

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