A Soviet collectible postcard from 1973 presents a panoramic view of the Odesa State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground of the postcard captures a well-kept square with pedestrian paths, lawns, small trees, and a decorative flower bed containing a tropical plant in the bottom left corner. Groups of people dressed in 1970s attire are strolling through the square. In the center of the composition is the monumental three-story opera and ballet theatre building, designed in the Baroque style with its signature dome, semi-circular facade, columns, and sculptural groups. Fragments of adjacent historic buildings are visible on the left and right. Overhead contact wires hang across the square.
Historical note
The Odesa Opera House was built in 1887, designed by the famous Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, replacing the first city theatre that was destroyed by fire. The architecture combines elements of Viennese Baroque and Italian Renaissance. At the time of the postcard’s release in 1973, it functioned as the Odesa State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Present day
Today, the venue is known as the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The building has fully retained its historical appearance and layout, including the surrounding square. A comprehensive restoration of the load-bearing structures and the facade was completed in 2007.
Location (map)
Address: 1 Chaikovskoho Lane, Odesa, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 46.485200, 30.741200
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Questions and answers
- What is depicted on the 1973 postcard? The postcard depicts the Odesa Opera and Ballet Theatre building and its adjacent square with pedestrians.
- Who designed the theatre building? The building, constructed in 1887, was designed by the famous Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer.
- What is the current status of the building? The building has fully retained its historical appearance, holds the status of a national theatre, and underwent a major restoration completed in 2007.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Odesa from 1973.
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