History
Operos vaidykla was founded in 1920 by the Society of Lithuanian Creators of Art in the temporary capital of Kaunas,[1] in the building now known as the Kaunas State Musical Theatre (opened in 1892).[2] The premiere, Verdi's La Traviata, was performed on 31 December of that year, which is now regarded as the anniversary of the theatre.[1]
The first ballet, Léo Delibes' Coppélia, was performed on 4 December 1925.[1]
Many artists of the theatre moved to the west during World War II before the second Soviet occupation in 1944. In 1948, the Opera and Ballet Theatre moved from Kaunas into an existing theatre building on J. Basanavičiaus Street in Vilnius.[1]
The theatre moved to a brand new building on the banks of the Neris River in 1974, designed by architect Elena Nijolė Bučiūtė (born 1930), after she had won an architectural competition in 1960.[3][4][5]
On 1 July 1998, the theatre was declared a national institution, and was officially renamed the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.[1]
A major renovation of the theatre has been undertaken, announced in 2022 with scheduled completion date before the beginning of the 2023/2024 theatre season. It has been costed at around 10m euros. The stage had been modernised since 1974, but services needed upgrading, so the new renovations included roof refurbishment and insulation; replacement of the glass of the external facade as well as windows and skylights; modernisation of the heating and hot water systems; and upgrading the ventilation and lighting systems. The changes reduce the energy consumption of the building by up to 45%.[6]
