Sofia Opera and Ballet

The opera art in Bulgaria started in 1891, with the first opera performance “Troubadour”. To Bulgaria, after the Liberation, opera felt like a blow of modernization and Europeanisation. It was existent and got improved for many years without a building of its own, while presenting its spectacles under the roof of the Military Club or the National Theatre. 
The present building was designed and completed not sooner than in 1953. The main hall has a capacity for almost 1000 seats, and the chamber one – for 120. Acoustics is excellent. It was designed in such manner as if the viewer is located inside a musical instrument. The walls and ceilings are double, even balconies and lodges in order to make up hollow spaces and get the perfect acoustics. In order to highlight this effect, there is a hollow space under the hall – its restaurant is located there. 
The building has an interesting history. Its design was assigned to architect Lazar Parshkevanov, who had just graduated his education in Prague. Initially, the building had another designation, yet during the construction it changed and the young architect had to rapidly rework all his calculations. He coped perfectly. He researched in depth the global opera theatres and adapted terrain’s features to building’s designation. The circumstances were difficult. Yet since he was obsessed with the idea of completing the building, after the construction stoppage because of financial reasons, he kept on with all funds. He convinced the workers who trusted him unconditionally to work without payment for another six months. And managed to achieve his dream – the vision, acoustics, everything inside the hall was at global level.  
Unfortunately, the neighbouring buildings were too close and the architectural scale has no distance to sufficiently unfold for the spectator 
Bulgaria is famous for its numerous worldwide famous opera artists. They have all sung at the stage of the Sofia opera. It still honours them while keeping the memory of their dressing rooms alive. For example, the one of Gena Dimitrova and Anna Tomova-Sintova that is located on the second floor, a small one with a mirror and a piano. 

There is a curious story to tell. Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, at the time was a military attache of his country in Sofia. He watched one of the first performances made by the Opera troupe in Sofia – “Carmen”. The performances were still not taking place in the present building. Inspired by the spectacle, the artists, the decors he swore he would build an Opera in Istanbul that at the time had no opera theatre of its own. To him it was an indicator that Bulgaria recovered and got modern after the wars exceptionally rapidly and its culture is the main spirit of its nation.