It is impossible to be in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, to walk along the streets Mashtots, Toumanyan, Teryan and Sayat-Nova, to go round the French square and not to admire the view of the Opera and Ballet State Academic Theatre which is named by the name of famous Armenian composer Alexander Spendiaryan. By its clear-cut and subtle design, interesting and impressive setup, fine high-reliefs Opera House attracts everybody’s attention and dominates over the surrounding by its granitic appearance.
The author of the building is Alexander Tamanyan, great Armenian architect who has already projected the plan of Yerevan. According to that plan the building should have been connected with the setup arbor of the city being situated in the center of it. The theatre was built during 1926-1963. The original plan implied the unity of 2 summer and winter mobile halls in one building which should be divided into 2 amphitheatres by the stage. It was planned to unite the two halls during solemn events creating a general space which would hold about 3000 spectators. Such a project was an innovation for those times due to which it received the Golden medal and was awarded the prize Grand-pre in the World Exhibition in France.
But the project undergoes some changes because of technical problems, and in 1936, after the death of the architect, the construction was finished by Gevorg Tamanyan, Alexander Tamanyan’s son. The construction of the winter hall of the building was finished in 1939. Instead of the summer hall the concert hall or philharmonic hall was built until 1963 which was named by the name of Aram Khachatryan whose statue is placed in front of the building.
This construction of Tamanyan combines Armenian national and classical architectural setup and aesthetic means of expression. The architecture and sculpture are harmoniously combined here. As the great architect Alexander Tamanyan mentioned: “The combination of three arts: architecture, sculpture and painting, will lead constructional art to prosperity”. And it is true, when looking at the building it’s impossible imagine separately the fine columns and masked figures, cogged cornice and embrasures linked by an arch or finely designed girdle surrounding the building.
The splendor of Opera House is stressed by the beauty of square Azatutyun and the two statues placed there, the statues of Hovhannes Tumanyan, Armenian famous poet, and composer Alexander Spendiaryan, which are created by sculptor Ara Sargsyan. Around the square the Swan Lake is situated, near which the famous statue of composer Arno Babajanyan is placed. This is how the heart of Yerevan is beating…