Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus (arch. Iosif Langbard). The Government House (arch. I. Langbard). Building of the Faculty of Geography of the Belarusian State University (arch. Georgij Lavrov). National Library of Belarus (arch. G. Lavrov) – currently, Council of the Republic.
Soviet territory during the interwar. You will learn about the first project of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus, designed by the modernist architect Georgy Lavrov and which was not implemented due to ideological reasons. After seeing Langbard’s projects, Yanka Kupala, a classic of Belarusian literature, exclaimed: “Oh, this guy is a dreamer!”. Architect Anatoly Shabalin will tell about the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. Soviet symbols were left in the interior. Architect Yuri Taubkin will tell more about the building of the Faculty of Geography as his grandfather was the head of this faculty.
Natalia Chrabrova, former ballerina of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, will tell behind-the-scenes stories. You will hear Belarusian baritone Viktor Skorobogatov, who has been singing at the opera house for more than 40 years. Once there was a pagan altar on the Trinity Mountain where now a theatre stands. Historian Dr Tomasz Błaszczak will be searching for the “soul” of the building in the stairwell of the National Library.