City Theatre (other names: Opera, Grand Theatre, Opera House, Ivan <br />

Franko State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Lviv, Solomia <br />

Krushelnytska State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Lviv) has been <br />

the pride and one of the crucial visual points of downtown Lviv for over<br />

a century. For a long time the Skarbek Theatre provided for the needs <br />

of the viewers. The Skarbek Theatre was constructed in 1839-1842. The <br />

period specfied by Stanisław Skarbek's foundational deed ran out in <br />

1892. The city council of the provincial capital city of Lviv passed a <br />

resolution in 1896 to build a new theatre, one that would correspond to <br />

the city's status, as well as to the ambitions of the city's residents. <br />

After many options were considered, it was decided to construct the <br />

theatre in Gołuchowskis Square. This led to a search for a solution to <br />

the issue of underground plumbing. The project was elaborated by the <br />

architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski, a professor and head of the Industry <br />

School, as well as winner of 2nd prize in the competition of <br />

construction projects of the Berlin Reichstag. Construction of <br />

the new theatre was undertaken by the company of architect Ivan <br />

Levynskyi in 1897-1900. The main, southern, façade faces the axis of the<br />

Hetman Bulwarks. It is richly decorated and crowned by a triangular <br />

fronton with bas-reliefs by Antoni Poppel. Above the fronton bronze <br />

winged allegoric figures by sculptor Petro Viytovych have been placed. <br />

The central figure is Glory with a gilded palm branch, to the left is <br />

Drama (with a mask), to the right – Music (with a lyre). A gallery with <br />

an arc covering, creates the rhythm of the second level. On either side <br />

of the gallery are allegoric sculptures of Tragedy (with a sword in <br />

hand) by A. Poppel, and Comedy by Tadeusz Barącz. Three oaken doors, <br />

each two meters (about six ft.) wide, lead into the House.