Presentation by: Angelina Ugodnikova and Daria Burniasheva, students of Pavel Serebriakov Volgograd Conservatory, Secondary professional education department (majoring in "Choir Conducting")

Supervisor: Irina Golberg, Honorary secondary education professional of the Russian Federation

The history of opera in Volgograd dates back to time when our city was called Tsaritsyn. In 1907, a philanthropist Vladimir Miller established the "Concordia" Theater on the slope of the Tsaritsa river valley. During its first season, the theater staged various musical plays. Yet, the "Miller" age in the history of our city's musical history was interrupted by the beginning of world war. The "Concordia" theater was destroyed, and opera disappeared from the city stage for a long time.

The first attempt to return to opera productions in our city was made only 50 years later, in the 90s. At that time, culture professionals came up with an idea to ring together a group of theater professionals who would be working in an opera theater full-time: orchestra musicians, a choir, solo singers, a director, a stage designer, etc. This initiative was suggested by a guest of our city, a symphony and theater conductor Vadim Venediktov – and supported by a People's Artist of the RSFSR Eduard Serov.

In 1992, all documents have been signed, and "Volgograd Opera Company" started its first rehearsals. This is the year when opera was born in our city.

In 2004, the theater's status changed, and it entered a new stage in its history. It was given a new name – Volgograd State Theater "Tsaritsyn Opera". Vladimir Federas, a Volgograd composer and entrepreneur, was appointed its director. The theater was accommodated in a building with splendid acoustics – previously known as a Vladimir Lenin Palace of Culture – constructed in 1956 by a famous architect Kornfeld.

Since 2006, the "Tsaritsyn Opera" has been actively cooperating with the actors and producers of the Russian State Academic Bolshoi Theater, as well as inviting guest stars from Moscow, Kazan, Ufa, Saratov opera theaters.

Since June of 2021, the "Tsaritsyn Opera" has a new director – the theater's chief conductor Sergey Grinev.

The theater's current repertory features the works of most different genres: operas, ballets, musicals, music-and-dance productions, and children musical plays, all of which are always popular with the audience.