Odessa Opera House Blog

In round niches of the upper floor on the front of the building the busts of Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Griboyedov, Nikolai Gogol and Mikhail Glinka. They represent something, which was built in the name of the theater – poetry, drama, comedy and music. Above the sculptures worked masters F. Netali, F. Friedl, F. Ethel, L. Stritskius.

The auditorium of the Odessa Opera House is decorated in the style of the late French rococo, decorated with stucco ornamentation with the finest gold. The main ornamental motif – sink in the form of curls of different shapes. Figure ornamentation never repeated. Overall abundance of marble, velvet, crystal shining, glittering mirrors and gilding.

The main facade of the theater has a semi-oval shape with two side wings, from which magnificent staircase begins. The front part of the building is divided by columns and pilasters and a balcony, located in the center of the narrow two-tier portal.

The front side of the theater performed in the Viennese baroque. Externally, the building consists of three floors. Sunrooms first two columns decorated with a Tuscan order. These stories form a whole and look fundamentally, giving the structure a static view. The third floor is a light, delicate, with a careful study of details. Thanks to the many arched loggias, columns and pilasters of the Ionic order, he balances the gravity of the lower floors. Additional effects in the architectural appearance of the theater make sophisticated portico and domed roof. As a result of the construction like floating above the ground.

Above the facade stands a group of sculptures depicting the patron of theatrical art muse Melpomene in a chariot drawn by four furious panthers (allegory: a power of art is able to subdue the beastly savagery).

Portico crowned two sculptures that embody the music and dance of the left – Orpheus playing the cithara centaur, right – Muse Terpsichore dance girl teaches her art. On the pediment of the portico of the Roman numerals are given a few dates: in the first line MDCCCL # # -MDCCCL # # – the years of beginning and end of the construction of the theater (1884 – 1887). The second line contains the phrase «ardebat anno», indicating a fire in 1925. Then comes MCMLXVII date (1967) and the word «restitutum» ( «restored») as a reminder of the restoration work in the theater.