12
Apr
Tbilisi Opera House – 170
Today is the 170th anniversary of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre.
On 15 April 1847, Viceroy Michael Vorontsov decided to build an opera theatre in Tbilisi. First of all, he was a devoted opera-lover. Also, the representative of the Russian Empire, which was still struggling to complete the occupation of the remaining lands of the Georgian Kingdom, needed something significant to take the mind of freedom-loving Georgians who were already invaded and subordinated from resistance, rebellion, and political activity. Little the Viceroy knew that spirit of Italian opera would bring the opposite to what he wisely planned. Just like Italian rebels who used Giuseppe Verdi's premieres to safely meet in public for plotting, the Georgian high society fell in love with bel canto and their desire to break free and regain their independence grew stronger, instead of surrendering to unfair fate.
A 30-year-old Italian architect Giovanni Scudieri (1817-1851) was put in charge of the project. It took him four years of hard work to complete the building. The Opera House was situated in the city centre, which is the modern-day Freedom Square. The monumental construction was built in the Italian Renaissance style with pseudo-Moorish tones and instantly, it became the main architectural jewel of the capital while still under construction due to its stunningly attractive half-done exterior. This was a 4,000-square-meter complex, where commercial and theatrical spaces co-existed.
On 12 April 1851, the first opera house in the entire Transcaucasia was opened with a grand ball, attended by the high society of Tiflis. On 25 October, one of the most popular Parisian newspapers of the 19th century, "Illustration", published a feature article by Edmond de Barésse with two illustrations of the interior view of the Tbilisi Opera Theatre. The French journalist wrote: "The only theatre in the city whose interior is completely decorated in the Moorish style, undoubtfully is the most elegant, graceful and beautiful theatre buildings that can be perceived by man".
When a poster was put up at the door of the Opera House, a new melody would be heard in the city, and anyone who could and wished to sing hummed a new aria. The opening of the opera theatre brought rapid changes in Tbilisi: many foreign shops were opened, and florists appeared in the city. It seemed that the entire capital started to dwell and breathe with the opera. Just a while ago, the country, which was deeply engaged in political issues and lead a struggle against the invaders, threw itself into cultural life overnight.
On 11 October 1874, the Tbilisi Opera Theatre caught fire from the neighbouring commercial centre. The pool in front of the building, which was always filled with water, turned out to be empty on that tragic day. Firefighters could not save anything. All the decorations, costumes and props, as well as the rich sheet music library, were burned. The shocked citizens of Tbilisi stood in silence, watching the inferno destroying their beloved Opera House. It was damaged so badly that it could not be restored and therefore, the city decided to build a new opera building.
The prominent Georgian newspaper "Droeba" published a statement that the fire was no accident but intentional damage. The fire started in the Tamamshev Caravanserai, which was located in the upper part of the complex, spreading further towards the Opera House; however, only that exact upper part was harmed the least and the commercial centre was eventually restored. The investigation proved the journalistic suspicion to be true as the suspect was found to be I. Lazarev. He was a merchant who intended to burn the place down because of conflict between the administration of the opera theatre and the merchants of the commercial centre. Lazarev was found guilty and sent to serve his 9-year sentence in Syberia.
Giovanni Scudieri died on 5 July 1851 in Tbilisi, so he did not get to see the cruel destruction of his masterpiece.
Victor Shröter (1839-1901) used the Richard Wagner Festival Theatre in Bayreuth as a prototype to design a new opera building for the city of Tbilisi. For the sake of history, it must be noted that the famous German composer adapted the design of his Festspielhaus from an unrealised project by Gottfried Semper for an opera house in Munich, without the architect's permission, and supervised its construction in person. The construction of the new opera theatre in Tbilisi was completed on 3 November 1896, and it stands on Rustaveli Avenue up today, mostly unchanged.
The first opera house was considered for 800 visitors while the new building could welcome 1,200 opera-lovers.
