The Taras Shevchenko National Opera of Ukraine at 50 Volodymyrska Street is one of the most prestigious opera houses in Europe, founded in 1867. The current building was built in 1898–1901 according to the design of architect Viktor Schroeter, on the site of the previous theater that burned down. The coat of arms of Kyiv was supposed to be displayed above the entrance, but the metropolitan considered the theater to be a sinful institution, so instead of Saint Michael, heraldic griffins with a lyre in their paws appeared here. Borys Gmyrya, Zoya Gaidai, Maria Litvinenko-Wolgemut played on this stage, Fyodor Chaliapin performed, and the production of Romeo and Juliet received a UNESCO medal as the best interpretation of Prokofiev.
After a large-scale reconstruction in 1983–1988, the stage was enlarged, the orchestra pit was reequipped for a hundred musicians, and a new organ from the Czech company Rieger-Klos was installed. The hall can accommodate about 1,650 spectators — a parterre, an amphitheater, a belletage, and four tiers. Today, the theater tours all over the world — from Japan to Brazil — and has trained a whole galaxy of world-famous singers.