CONCERT HALLS & MUSIC VENUES

1930-1947

State index: 1.6.95.2

Architects: Alexander Tamanyan, Gevorg Tamanyan

Located at 36 Tumanyan Street.

Alexander Tamanyan designed it as the People's House from 1926 to 1936. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 28, 1930.

Alexander Tamanyan gave a unique and expressive embodiment to the two-hall theater building. He initially designed it with transformable winter (southern) and summer (northern) halls, each with its own stage, parterre, and amphitheater. When necessary, removing the partition would unite these two stages and halls, forming an oval-shaped hall for 3000 spectators with one common stage. Unfortunately, due to technical issues and Tamanyan's death in 1936, the project to potentially connect the two halls was never realized.

The theater building's design won the Grand Prix Gold Medal at the 1937 Paris World Exhibition.

The construction of the building occurred in two phases. In 1939, workers completed the winter theater section, where the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet Theater began operating in 1940. In 1953, they finished the summer theater section, which was transformed into the Armenian Philharmonic's Grand Hall during construction (architect: Gevorg Tamanyan). Since 1979, it bears the name of Aram Khachaturian (now the “Aram Khachaturyan” Concert Hall).

From 1978 to 1980, the Opera and Ballet Theater section underwent a complete renovation, followed by the Grand Concert Hall section from 1981 to 1983, focusing particularly on the interiors (architects: Gevorg, Julius, and Gayane Tamanyan). After reconstruction, the Opera and Ballet Theater hall has 1200 seats, while the concert hall has 1400 seats.

The Opera and Ballet Theater and Concert Hall building stands out with its unified and solid volume, monumental and beautiful forms, and harmonious proportions. The building's significance for Armenian Soviet architecture is crucial – it applies the best traditions and viable forms of national architecture in a way that achieves a new quality and contemporary resonance.

The nearby Theater Square, created simultaneously with the National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, was renamed Freedom Square in 1991. In 1957, authorities installed monuments to the great Armenian poet Hovhannes Tumanyan (architect: Grigor Aghababyan, sculptor: Ara Sargsyan) and composer Alexander Spendiaryan (architects: Grigor Aghababyan, Phoenix Darbinyan, sculptors: Ara Sargsyan, Ghukas Chubaryan) here. In 1999, they placed a monument to the world-renowned composer Aram Khachaturian (architect: Romen Martirosyan, sculptor: Yuri Petrosyan) in front of the Concert Hall.

“Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality