The theatre was inaugurated in 1825 but had to be rebuilt almost entirely in 1853 by the Italian architect Alberto Cavos after it was severely damaged by a fire. The result is the splendid neoclassical building that stands before you today, with a large portico supported by a single row of columns.
If you look up to the portico's roof, you’ll see a bronze sculpture of a quadriga by Peter Clodt von Jürgensburg.
In addition to the restorations carried out over the years, in 2005 the Theatre was completely restructured to restore the acoustics to their original quality and to renovate the decorative features from the imperial period. Unfortunately, during Stalin's rule the theatre was also transformed into a venue where party meetings and congresses were held, which not only compromised the acoustics, but anything that evoked the luxury of the Tsarist period such as chandeliers and stuccoes were removed.
After six years of restorations, the theatre was finally reopened on October 28, 2011. The restoration costs apparently exceeded the staggering sum of one billion dollars!
