The Armenian National Academic Opera & Ballet Theatre in Yerevan was founded in 1932 and was opened on January 20, 1933. Yerevan (Երևան Երեւան or Երեվան ˌjɛrəˈvɑːn sometimes written as Erevan, Iravan, Erewan, Ayrivan, and Erivan Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The theatre building was constructed in 1940 by the architect Alexander Tamanian. Alexander Tamanian (Ալեքսանդր Թամանյան Таманян Александр Оганесович March 4, 1878, Yekaterinodar - February In 1938, the theatre was named after Alexander Spendiaryan, great Armenian composer, author of opera Almast which was performed in 1933 as a first performance at the theatre. Alexander Spendiaryan (Ալեքսանդր Սպենդիարյան Александр Афанасьевич Спендиаров 1871 - 1928) was an outstanding Armenian
Soon after the theatre foundation, a ballet troupe was established. Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was the first ballet performance in 1935. Swan Lake ( Лебединое Озеро, Lebedinoye Ozero) is a Ballet, op
The opening of the theatre promoted the creation of new national operas and ballets. The first Armenian ballet was Happiness by Aram Khachaturian. Aram Khachaturian ( Armenian: Արամ Խաչատրյան Aram Xačatryan; Russian: Аpaм Ильич Xaчaтypян Aram Il'ič Hačaturjan On the basic of this ballet the composer soon created Gayane which has been performed all over the world. Many other Armenian composers have written operas and ballets. Over the years, these artists have worked at the theatre: singers Gohar Gasparyan, Tatevik Sazandaryan, Mihran Erkat, Pavel Lisizian, Aikanush Danielyan, Nar Hovhannisyan, Gegham Grigoryan; conductors Konstantin Saradjev, Michael Tavrizjan, Aram Katanyan, Yuri Davtyan; ballet masters A. Gohar Gasparyan ( December 14, 1924, Cairo - May 16 2007, Yerevan) also known as the "Armenian nightingale" Petrosyan, M. Chmshkyan, V. Khanamiryan, Vilen Galstyan; painters Martiros Saryan, Minas Avetisyan. Vilen Galstyan is an Armenian actor who was popular in the former U Martiros Saryan (Մարտիրոս Սարյան ( &mdash 5 May 1972) was a Russian-born Armenian painter. Minas Avetisyan (Մինաս Ավետիսյան July 20, 1928 — February 24, 1975) was a painter.
Since 1935 a unique Armenian opera, Anoush by Armen Tigranyan, has been performed. It was a great step in Armenian opera history. Anoush is in the repertoire of the theatre until now.
In 1956, the theatre received the status of National Academic Opera & Ballet Theatre.
Since it was opened, the Armenian National Opera & Ballet Theatre has performed more than 200 different operas and ballets by Armenian, Russian and West European composers.
The theatre company has performed in more than 20 countries, e. g. in Russia, Spain, Lebanon, USA, Greece, Germany.