Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater

The Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater is Georgia's premier opera stage and one of the most recognizable landmarks on Rustaveli Avenue. The present edifice was erected in 1896 based on designs by German architect Victor Schröter after the city's initial opera house, inaugurated in 1851, was consumed by fire. The theater is constructed in a Neo-Moorish style rare for Tbilisi, marked by pointed horseshoe arches, turrets, and intricate Oriental ornament.

Fyodor Chaliapin and many famous musicians of their time performed on this stage. The first Georgian national operas were staged here, and since 1937 the theater has borne the name of composer Zakharia Paliashvili. In 1973, the building was seriously damaged during a fire, but was restored while preserving its historical appearance.

Today the theater remains the country's premier musical venue. Opera and ballet productions, international festivals, and touring performances are held here. Following a large-scale renovation completed in 2016, historic interiors and an updated auditorium reopened to visitors.