City Theatre (other names: Opera, Grand Theatre, Opera House, Ivan

Franko State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Lviv, Solomia

Krushelnytska State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Lviv) has been

the pride and one of the crucial visual points of downtown Lviv for over

a century. For a long time the Skarbek Theatre provided for the needs

of the viewers. The Skarbek Theatre was constructed in 1839-1842. The

period specfied by Stanisław Skarbek's foundational deed ran out in

1892. The city council of the provincial capital city of Lviv passed a

resolution in 1896 to build a new theatre, one that would correspond to

the city's status, as well as to the ambitions of the city's residents.

After many options were considered, it was decided to construct the

theatre in Gołuchowskis Square. This led to a search for a solution to

the issue of underground plumbing. The project was elaborated by the

architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski, a professor and head of the Industry

School, as well as winner of 2nd prize in the competition of

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

the new theatre was undertaken by the company of architect Ivan

Levynskyi in 1897-1900. The main, southern, façade faces the axis of the

Hetman Bulwarks. It is richly decorated and crowned by a triangular

fronton with bas-reliefs by Antoni Poppel. Above the fronton bronze

winged allegoric figures by sculptor Petro Viytovych have been placed.

The central figure is Glory with a gilded palm branch, to the left is

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

an arc covering, creates the rhythm of the second level. On either side

of the gallery are allegoric sculptures of Tragedy (with a sword in

hand) by A. Poppel, and Comedy by Tadeusz Barącz. Three oaken doors,

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