Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Restoration of the Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Types of work:
- Restoration of stucco decoration
- Gilding works
- Reproduction of painting on facades
Lead time: Twelve months
Project architect: Natalia Dykhovichna
Artists: Guzenko Y., Bayandin S., Rudko Y., Pikul M., Romanov K. and other prominent artists.
The Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the most outstanding architectural and cultural monuments of Ukraine.
Its majestic history, unique style and artistic significance make the theatre a true symbol of Odessa. Designing, restoration and reproduction of artistic paintings on the facades and in the interior of the theatre is not only a technical, but also a creative process that requires coordinated work of architects, restorers and artists. One of the leading figures in this work was the architect Natalia Dykhovichna.
Design and historical significance of the theatre
The theatre was built in 1887 to a design by Austrian architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The building is in the “Viennese Baroque” style, with elements of Renaissance and Classicism. The interior of the theatre is astonishingly luxurious, combining rich stucco ornaments, gilding, sculptures and decorative paintings.
The façade of the theatre is also of high artistic value thanks to its fine architectural details and baroque elements. It depicts themes from ancient mythology, emphasising the aesthetics of theatre art.
Restoration and Natalia Dykhovichnaya’s involvement
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the Odessa Theatre has undergone several restoration works, but the most significant was the restoration that began in the early 2000s. The project was complex and multi-stage, taking into account the preservation of the historical authenticity of the building, which at the time was in a state of disrepair.
Natalia Dykhovychna, a well-known Ukrainian architect and restorer, was actively involved in the project. Her work consisted of restoring the interior, reproducing the paintings and preserving the original architectural forms. Dykhovichnaya focused on:
Reproduction of façade paintings: Given the numerous losses of decorative elements and the paint layer, she led the process of restoring the artistic painting on the façades. The work was based on archival materials and photographs, which helped to reproduce the original appearance.
Interior restoration: Special attention was paid to the central hall, balconies and dome. Restorers under Natalia’s guidance restored the mouldings, gilding and wall paintings. The harmony of the interior was preserved thanks to the use of traditional techniques and materials used in the construction of the theatre in the 19th century.
Conservation of original elements: Dichovicna noted the importance of preserving original fragments such as parts of murals, sculptures and decorative elements. This ensured the historical value of the restoration results.
Artistic reproduction of the paintings on the façades
The façade of the theatre was largely damaged due to the effects of time and climatic conditions. Natalia Dykhovichnaya, together with a team of restoration artists Yuri Guzenko and Konstantin Romanov, worked on the reproduction of the Greek mythology scenes decorating the façade. By using modern materials and techniques, they managed to achieve a balance between authenticity and durability.
An important aspect was to keep the colour palette consistent with the original. The study of old photographs and chemical analysis of paint residues helped to reproduce the original appearance of the paintings as closely as possible.
Interior restoration
The main hall of the theatre, with its rich decorations, was the key focus of the work. The difficulty was that the stucco and gilding had suffered significant damage. Natalia Dykhovichnaya led the work to restore the dome, on which paintings depicting scenes from classical operas and ballets are located.
The work also covered:
Restoration of crystal chandeliers and mirrors.
Restoration of marble columns and staircases.
Reproduction of textile decoration such as velvet buttonholes and chair upholstery.
The result of the work
The restoration of the Odessa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre was an example of successful combination of historical technologies and modern achievements. Natalia Dykhovichnaya and her team managed not only to preserve but also to emphasise the grandeur of the architectural masterpiece.
Today the theatre is the pride of Odessa, attracting thousands of tourists and serving as a venue for the best theatre and ballet performances.