Throughout its history, the National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after A. Spendiaryan has been a sacred hearth for every Armenian, the pride of our culture, and for foreigners, Armenia, the best opportunity to enjoy its valuable culture.
Summarizing the 90-year glorious history of the opera house, we should mention that hundreds of works of not only national, but also world classical and modern repertoire are presented on the stage of the theater.
The theater started its activity on January 20, 1933, presenting А.Spendiaryan's opera "Almast" . In the first season, the theater performed Productions of "The Barber of Seville" by G. Rossini, "Eugene Onegin" by P. Tchaikovsky, "Faust" by Sh. Gounod's operas.
From the very first years of creation, worked in the theater famous conductors G. Budaghyan, A. Charekyan, K. Sarajev, M. Tavrizyan, S. Shatiryan, directors A. Burjalyan, L. Kalantar, A. Gulakyan, painters M. Saryan, M. Arutchyan, P. Ananyan, soloists H. Danielyan, Sh. Talyan, L. Isetsky, A. Karatov, T. Bejanyan, E. Fanarjyan, T. Shahnazaryan, T. Sazandaryan, P. Lisitsyan, ballet artists L. Voynova- Shikanyan, R. Tavrizyan, P. Burnazyan, Z. Muradyan.
Over the years, the theater's repertoire expanded, being supplemented with national works. 1939 Participation in the ten days of Armenian art and literature held in Moscow was a turning point in the life of the theater. Were presented opera’s "Almast" by Spendiaryan, "Anush" by Tigranyan, "Lusabats" by H. Stepanyan,and ballet "Happiness" by A. Khachatryan. After the ten days of Moscow, the theater was named after the famous composer A. Spendiaryan.
The theater staged a large number of Western European and Russian classical and modern operas. The national opera and ballet repertoire was significantly expanded and enriched. A brilliant group of artists came to the theater. G. Gasparyan, M. Yerkat, A. Tutunjian, D. Poghosyan, A. Petrosyan, N. Hovhannisyan, A. Karapetyan, K. Markosyan, ballet soloists T. Grigoryan, F. Yelanyan, S. Minasyan, B. Hovnanyan and others... directors A. Gulakyan, V. Achemyan, I. Volchek, P. Afeyan, later H. Ghaplanyan, V. Bagratuni, conductors S. Charekyan, R. Stepanyan, D. Shikanyan, ballet masters I. Arbatov, V. Rakovetsky, E. Changa, A. Gharibyan, M. Martirosyan. From the 1960’s, a new generation of conductors appeared: A. Katanyan, H. Voskanyan, O. Duryan, Y. Davtyan…
In the 1970’s and 80’s,shone with unsurpassed skill G. Gasparyan, G. Galachyan, G. Grigoryan, S. Danielyan, T. Levonyan, A. Petrosyan, V. Harutyunyan, H. Alaverdyan, B. Tumanyan, A. Mansuryan, H. Papyan, E. Chakhoyan, ballet soloists V. Galstyan, H. Divanyan, E. Mnatsakanyan, S. Abrahamyan, T. Aydinyan, R. Avnikyan, N. Davtyan, R. Kharatyan and others.
In the 1990’s, during the most difficult period for the country, the opera theater not only did not stop its activities, like many theaters of the republic, but performed different performances of great aesthetic value. Artistic director of the theater T. Levonyan gathered around him a group of devotees who, despite all difficulties, remained in the theater and continued to create. In those years T. Levonyan directed "Poliuto" by G. Donizetti, "Anoush" by A.Tigranyan, G. Verdi's "Othello" and R. Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" operas. The birth of each of them became a great event in Armenian cultural life.
In the 2000’s, artistic director of the theater G. Grigoryan brought a large group of young artists to the theater, who were involved in performances alongside the older generation.
Staged by G. Verdi's << La Traviata>>, <<Il Trovatore>>, G. Bizet's "Carmen", V. Bellini's <<Norma>>, "Anoush" by A. Tigranyan, S. Rachmaninov's "Aleko", A. Terteryan's "Earthquake" operas.
In 2009, took the stage A. Khachatryan's "Spartak" ballet Directed by , People's Artist of the USSR Y.Grigorovich. In 2010, The staging of Verdi's opera "Aida" directed by the Italian director M. Corradi.
In the last 10 years, the theater staged many opera and ballet performances. He went on a tour to the UAE and Kuwait, representing G. Bizet's "Carmen" and V.A. Mozart's "Magic Flute" operas.
In the last two seasons,performed in the theater G. Puccini's "Turandot", "Cio-Cio-San", G. Donizetti's "Drink of Love" operas, S. Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet", "Swan Lake" by P.Tchaikovsky, V. Sharafyan's "Gravity" ballets. With an unprecedented world premiere, the theater presented the original of T. Chukhachyan's opera "Arshak II" in Italian.
Even today, being the only one, The National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Spendiaryan creates lasting values and occupies its most important place in the cultural life of the republic.
