Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Донецький академічний державний театр опери та балету імені Анатолія Солов'яненка
Address	Artema street, 82 Donetsk, Donetsk Oblast Ukraine
Capacity	976 seats
Opened	12 April 1941

Donetsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after A. Solovyanenko (Ukrainian: Донецький академічний державний театр опери та балету імені Анатолія Солов'яненка) was established in 1932 in Donetsk on the basis of fit-up theatre of Right-bank Ukraine. Since 15 March 1932 the theatre was transferred to Donetsk theatre group^[1] The first season opened on September 1, 1932 with opera Prince Igor composed by Alexander Borodin.^[2] On April 12, 1941, the Theatre opened the season in the new theater building by premiere of Mikhail Glinka's Ivan Susanin.^[2][1] On August 7, same year, the premiere of the first ballet performance Laurencia by Alexander Crain was held.

After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War part of the company was evacuated to Kirghizia, later, in June 1942, the theater moved to Przhevalsk city, where actors held concerts in hospitals and military units.^[1] In January 1944 the theater returned to Donetsk and already in September, right after the liberation of the Donets Basin a premiere of Alexander Borodin's Prince Igor took place.

On October 2, 1977, the Theater was awarded with Academic status for significant contribution to the development of Soviet art. In 1992 the Choreographic School of Vadym Pysarev was established in the Theater. Starting from 1994 the Theater has been hosting the International Festival "World Ballet Stars", Vadim Pisarev is as well the founder and art director.

On December 9, 1999 by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the theater was named after Soviet Ukrainian opera singer Anatoliy Solovyanenko.^[1]