Estonia Theatre is an historic building in

Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

, which houses the

Estonian National Opera Estonian National Opera (''Rahvusooper Estonia'') is the national opera company of Estonia. The company is based at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn. The theatre has had several names throughout its existence. The latest one being "The Estonian Nati ...

and the

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra Estonian National Symphony Orchestra ( et, Eesti Riiklik Sümfooniaorkester ''(ERSO)'') is the leading orchestra in Estonia and is based in the capital Tallinn. The orchestra traces it roots to 18 December 1926, the first concert broadcast by Tal ...

. The original

Jugendstil ''Jugendstil'' ("Youth Style") was an artistic movement, particularly in the decorative arts, that was influential primarily in Germany and elsewhere in Europe to a lesser extent from about 1895 until about 1910. It was the German counterpart of ...

building was designed by Finnish architects

Armas Lindgren Armas Eliel Lindgren (28 November 1874 – 3 October 1929) was Finnish architect, professor and painter. Biography Early life and career Armas Lindgren was born in Hämeenlinna on 28 November 1874. He studied architecture in the Polytechnical I ...

and Wivi Lönn. It was built as a national effort with the leadership of Estonia society in 1913 and was opened to the public on 24 August. At the time, it was the largest building in Tallinn. The theatre was heavily damaged in the Soviet air raid on Tallinn on 9 March 1944. It was reconstructed in a classical and Stalinist style, and reopened in 1947. Vaade Estonia teatrile ja Uuele turule

In 1946, it served as the home of the newly created Tallinn Ballet School and was the location of the debut of one of the graduates of the school's first class, Helmi Puur. She was the

prima ballerina A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

of the theater between 1954 and 1956, 1958 and 1960, and 1964 to 1966. StampUSSR1950 1554

The building has two large auditoriums in two separate wings. A chamber hall was opened in 2006. Also the Concert Hall is located in the building. In 1997, the hall was thoroughly renovated.

References

Estonia majast
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'' * http://www.classictic.com/en/Tallinn/Estonian-National-Opera 1913 establishments in Estonia Buildings and structures in Tallinn Theatres in Tallinn Opera houses in Estonia Kesklinn, Tallinn Art Nouveau architecture in Estonia Tourist attractions in Tallinn Theatres completed in 1913 Music venues completed in 1913 Theatres completed in 1947 Music venues completed in 1947 Art Nouveau theatres Heritage listed buildings and structures in Estonia {{Art-Nouveau-stub

See also

References