National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania
Albania's opera, ballet and folk ensemble company in the Palace of Culture on Skanderbeg Square.
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet was founded on 29 November 1953, bringing together the opera, ballet and orchestral forces that had grown out of the state Philharmonic. Its first seasons were given in the building of the University of Arts before the company moved to the Palace of Culture on Skanderbeg Square. Alongside the opera and ballet companies it houses the National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances, which performs music and choreography drawn from the regions of northern and southern Albania.
The Palace of Culture dominates the eastern side of Skanderbeg Square, next to the Et'hem Bey Mosque and opposite the National History Museum. Its foundation stone was laid in 1959 during a visit by Nikita Khrushchev, and after the break between Tirana and Moscow the work was completed by Albanian builders in the following years. The white stone building, with its tall colonnaded front and deep portico, also contains the National Library. Repertoire mixes standard opera and ballet with Albanian works and concert programmes.
Highlights
- Home of Albania's national opera, ballet and folk ensemble
- Housed in the Palace of Culture on Skanderbeg Square
- Colonnaded socialist-era facade shared with the National Library
- Monthly artistic calendar published for each season
