Soviet collectible postcard from 1971 depicting the Ivan Franko State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Lviv.
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground shows the pedestrian square in front of the theater, with a woman in a red dress walking towards the camera pushing a light-colored baby stroller. To the left, well-maintained flower beds with green plants are visible, and a tall decorative spruce tree stands in the center. In the background, the grand facade of the opera house rises with its characteristic arched loggias, columns, and allegorical statues. On the right, billboard stands with the word “Gastroli” (Tours) can be seen.
Historical note
The theater building was constructed between 1897 and 1900, designed by the renowned architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski, and opened as the Grand Theatre (Teatr Wielki). During the Soviet period, in 1956, the theater was named after the prominent Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko, and in 1966, it was awarded academic status.
Present day
Today, the institution is officially named the Solomiya Krushelnytska Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The square in front of the theater on Svobody Avenue has been fully reconstructed, featuring a modern dry fountain, while the building itself remains one of the key architectural symbols of Lviv.
Location (map)
Address: 28 Svobody Avenue, Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 49.843949, 24.026224
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Google Maps / Wikidata.
Questions and answers
- Who was the theater named after in 1971? In 1971, the theater was named after the Ukrainian writer Ivan Franko, a designation it received in 1956.
- Who designed the theater building? The theater was designed by the prominent architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski at the turn of the 20th century.
- What has changed in the square in front of the theater today? Today, the square on Svobody Avenue has been reconstructed, and a modern dry fountain has been installed in front of the theater.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Lviv from 1971.
