Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (LNOBT) (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalinis operos ir baleto teatras) is an opera house and ballet theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the largest theatre of the country, committed to organising the creation and production of scenic works for musical theatre and assuring their public performance on the highest artistic level. The theatre operates as an institution founded by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

Theatre building

LNOBT aims to nurture, initiate and cultivate traditions of national musical theatre, develop traditions of contemporary musical theatre and present them to the wide community, seek the artistic embodiment of values treasured in the world's musical culture. Also, to capacitate young talented and recognised artists and performers, both from Lithuania and abroad, to participate in the theatre's activities. The theatre shapes the image of country's artistic culture by presenting the accomplishments of national musical culture abroad, as well as cultivating, instigating and satisfying the need for professional scenic art in the wide society.

Lithuanian national opera and ballet theatre is currently led by general manager Jonas Sakalauskas, artistic director of opera Sesto Quatrini and artistic director of ballet Martynas Rimeikis. The chief conductor of LNOBT’s symphony orchestra is Ričardas Šumila.

Facade of the building

See also

LNOBT’s Activities
Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre Vilnius

The present venue of the theatre, designed by the architect N. Bučiūtė, was opened in 1974. The theatre contains a 1142-seat main auditorium, and offers services and facilities supplied with modern equipment. The symbol of the theatre is a twig of the rue. The season lasts 10 months (September – June).

During the season the Company is usually engaged in 15 current and 4 new operas and by far the same number of ballet productions.

International awareness of the LNOBT and its artists is particularly enhanced by guest touring to world-famous festivals and lyric theatres. Over the past decade alone, Lithuanian ballet was represented at international festivals in Evian / France, Lodz, Ingolstadt (Germany), Washington D.C., Osaka (Japan), at the Cairo Opera, London Barbecan Hall, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, Teatro comunale di Bologna, in other venues in Italy, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Turkey, the UK, etc. The opera company has appeared at the Roncole Verdi, the Savonlinna opera festivals and has repeatedly guest toured to the Netherlands and Germany, to Taiwan, Dalhalla opera festival (Sweden), Nottingham (UK), and Warsaw Teatr Wielki.

Recent decades brought a particular boost in the Company’s activity and new developments in the repertoire. At the present, the LNOBT is a modern, forward-thinking institution that strives to present its audiences with best versions of both opera and ballet productions. The repertoire of the theatre consists of classical and modern pieces produced by some of today’s best directors. Latest highlights include “Madama Butterfly” (dir. Anthony Minghella), “Turandot” (dir. Robert Wilson), “The Bluebeard’s Castle” (dir. Csaba Káel), “Ernani” (dir. Jean-Claude Berutti), “Idomeneo” (dir. Graham Vick), “Don Carlo” (dir. Gunter Kramer), “La boheme” (dir. Cristina Muti), “Piaf” (chor. Mauro Bigonzetti), “Le Corsaire” (chor. Manuel Legris), “Der Prozess” (chor. Martynas Rimeikis), etc. The LNOBT collaborates in co-productions with some of the world’s leading theatres, such as the Metropolitan Opera New York, San Francisco a, Teatro Real in Madrid, Houston Grand Opera, English National Opera, Israeli Opera and other prominent institutions.

The LNOBT has also set up a tradition of Summer Season performances in the courtyard of Trakai Castle. Ever since the Company first welcomed its audiences in Trakai in 2001, these open-air events proved immensely popular with local viewers and visitors alike.

The Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre often provides a venue for official state events, various festivals and festivities, celebrations and concerts. It is the biggest theatre and one of the most important cultural centres in Lithuania.

LNOBT is member of the ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts), Opera Europa and RESEO (European Network of Education Departments in Opera Houses).

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