The building of the Latvian National Opera is located in the most visited place in Riga by tourists - in the city center, surrounded by parks on the embankment of the city canal.
The theater is a concentration of the cultural life of the Latvian capital. He presents the best examples of ballet and opera performances of the European level.
Having asked about the year in which the Latvian National Opera was built, we must recall the one and a half century history of the magnificent structure.
The construction of a theater building
In the XVIII century. in the open spaces of the Duchy of Courland, to which Latvia belonged, wandering musicians wandered, they gave performances. Local residents highly appreciated musical talents, therefore, at the end of the 18th century, they opened the city theater building built at the expense of the community. For two years (1837-1839) composer Richard Wagner worked as bandmaster in the city theater, this gave an impetus to the active development of opera.
There is a decision to build a full-fledged opera house, under which city architects Johann Felsko and Otto Dietze allocate a place - the territory of the former Pancake bastion.
The Latvian National Opera considers the year of construction 1856, when the construction of the first Riga theater begins in the center of the old city.
St. Petersburg architect Ludwig Bonstedt was invited, the project he developed was personally approved by the Emperor of Russia Alexander II. In Riga, the construction was carried out by local architects G. Schel and F. Hess.
In 1863 the building was completed, in August the grand opening of the theater took place. The public presented the musical composition “Apollo Cup” and “The Great Holiday Overture” composed by bandmaster Carl Dumont.
Architectural features of the first Riga Theater
Architect Ludwig Bonstedt used the traditions of construction and decoration of theater buildings, adopted at that time in Europe. The Latvian National Opera is similar to opera houses in Berlin, Wroclaw and Hanover, embodying the unity of cultural ties.
The theater is designed in classical canons:
- on the facade is an ionic colonnade;
- allegorical statues are installed in niches;
- on the upper balustrade are muses;
- on the pediment is a statue of Apollo, who holds a mask in one hand, and the other holds a fantasy, embodied by the figure of a lion.
The theater hall accommodated 2,000 people, it contained 1,300 seats. Exquisite wooden carvings, many curtains, statues adorned the interior.
Fire Recovery
The Latvian National Opera has successfully worked for 19 years.
In June 1882, a fire broke out at noon. Presumably the cause was a malfunction of the gas lamp. The luxurious interior, the hall and the stage quickly burned out, the ceiling and roof were damaged, only the walls of the building were saved.
Reconstruction began three years later, the main architect of Riga, Reinhold Georg Schmeling, who studied under Ludwig Bonstedt, took up this task.
Neo-Renaissance adherent Schmeling rebuilt the building for 2 years. He added an extension, which housed a steam power station. For the first time in Riga, the theater shone with an electric light.
Schmeling thought out fire safety: after the performance and at night, the stage and the hall are separated by a metal curtain.
The height of the ceilings was increased, a magnificent decorative painting appeared on them and a luxurious bronze chandelier with 128 lamps was hung.
The pride of the theater is the auditorium, consisting of a stalls, mezzanine and a two-tier decorated gilding balcony. The hall seats 1240 seats and 150 standing places.
The renewed Latvian National Opera was opened in September 1887.
Theater during the Civil War
The revolutionary events almost did not affect the opera, although in 1918 there was another small fire that destroyed the outbuildings, and in 1919 during the shelling the portal and part of the facade were damaged.
The opera company created in 1912 received the premises of the theater in Riga, which has since been called the Latvian National Opera. The first performance was, of course, the work of R. Wagner, “The Flying Dutchman”.
Reconstruction of the Latvian National Opera
The old building was repaired in 1957-1958, but gradually the years took their toll, and in 1995 a large-scale restoration began, which lasted five years.
During this time, an additional building was added, where now there is a ticket office, rehearsal room and a new stage.
Thanks to the repair, the acoustics of the hall improved, which annually gives about 250 performances, as well as the Riga Opera Festival.
The orchestra pit is made almost invisible: its walls, floor, furniture are painted black. Only for the conductor is a white platform.
Two buffets during the intermission and before the performance take visitors, their interiors correspond to the spirit of the theater with a century and a half history.
But the foyer is made in a modern style, it housed an exhibition of photographs depicting the history of the theater. Portraits of famous singers and dancers, who conquered not only the inhabitants of Riga, but the whole world by their art, are watched from the walls.
Interiors
The building of the Latvian National Opera was built in 1856, today it is an architectural monument. In the season, which lasts from September to June, you can see not only performances in the theater, but also go on excursions in the interior, behind the curtains, and admire the beautiful interiors.
Restorers neatly preserved numerous elements of the last century: bronze handles, chandeliers, decorations and parquet. Restored ceiling painting.
Tourists are escorted to the presidential box with a boudoir, which is located almost on the stage, in the dressing rooms, and allowed to stand on the old stage.
Square in front of the theater
In 1887 (during the reconstruction of the theater after the fire) the territory located in front of the building was changed. The opera was surrounded by boulevards and parks, and in front of the pediment they made a flower alley and square decorated with the Nymph fountain. The fountain was performed by the Riga sculptor Foltz.
The years were not dominant over the theatrical surroundings, where the landscape design of the 19th century was preserved practically unchanged to this day.
Recently, a sculpture dedicated to Maris Liepe, who glorified the Latvian opera with his performances, was installed near the opera.