Ankara Opera House, Ankara

Ankara Opera House, Ankara

The Ankara Opera House, part of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet, stands as the primary venue for opera and ballet performances in Ankara. The city boasts two other venues for such shows, namely Leyla Gencer Sahnesi in Ostim and Operet Sahnesi, also known as Operetta Theater, in Sıhhiye.

Originally conceived as an exhibition center, the building's design was the creation of Turkish architect Şevki Balmumcu, who emerged victorious in an international competition for the project in 1933. Subsequently, the structure was transformed into an opera house under the guidance of the German architect Paul Bonatz, and it commenced its role as such on April 2, 1948.

Furthermore, this same building is utilized as a theater venue for the Turkish State Theatres under the name Büyük Tiyatro. There has been an ongoing construction project for a new primary opera house in Ankara, situated near the original one and boasting a significantly larger capacity.

Typically, the performance season in Ankara extends from September to June, offering a diverse array of productions that one should not overlook. Past performances have included renowned classics like Carmen and the Nutcracker, as well as commemorative concerts, festivals, and a variety of Turkish-language shows.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ankara. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Ankara Opera House on Map

Sight Name: Ankara Opera House
Sight Location: Ankara, Turkey (See walking tours in Ankara)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Ankara, Turkey

Create Your Own Walk in Ankara

Create Your Own Walk in Ankara

Creating your own self-guided walk in Ankara is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ankara Introduction Walking Tour

Ankara Introduction Walking Tour

Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey, is the heart of the country's central region of Anatolia. Apart from being an important center for politics, this cosmopolitan city – the second-largest in Turkey after Istanbul – plays a significant role in shaping the nation's cultural and economic landscape.

Ankara has a long and eventful history, dating back to the Bronze Age, circa 2,000...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Ankara Roman Ruins Walking Tour

Ankara Roman Ruins Walking Tour

In 25 BC, Emperor Augustus annexed Ankara, then known as Ancyra, to the Roman Empire. Following that, the city, attached with considerable importance, was enhanced with fortifications and embellished with temples and elaborate civic buildings.

The most significant Roman landmarks, a testament to the Roman imperial cultural influence, survived to our days albeit ruined, include the Roman Theater...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles