Opera House

The Opera House (Middle Palace) is one of the most interesting buildings in Tsaritsyno with sophisticated decorations. Designed by the court architect Vasily Bazhenov, the Middle Palace was intended for Catherine II to hold small official receptions and ceremonies, theater performances and other court amusements. The surviving plans of the palace show that its main part was occupied by a huge hall with a vaulted ceiling and magnificent acoustics. There were also two smaller halls and a whole suite of office rooms.

Construction of the building started in 1776, using brick and white stone, traditional for Tsaritsyno buildings. The design has distinctive hallmarks of Bazhenov style – it’s a two-storey building with simple and massive ground floor and an elegantly decorated second floor. Thanks to this, the building seems to tend to the sky. The palace is crowned with an arcade decorated with a row of sigils depicting discs and sickles – symbols of the sun and the moon.

In the beginning of the 19th century Tsaritsyno became a popular spot for walks and picnics in the countryside. On a plan dated 1816 the Middle Palace was designated as “Opera House” for performances and musical evenings. But these plans had never been realized. Until the beginning of the 1980s, the palace remained empty. Only after the first major restoration in 1987-1995 exhibitions, conferences and concerts were held at the Opera House for the first time.

In 2012 the general restoration of the Opera House started, it lasted for two years. As a result, utilities were installed in the building, the halls were lined with new parquet and authentic hexagon tiles. Brick masonry and white stone decorations were renovated. Since 2014 the Opera House has been hosting regular exhibitions.