30 October 2007
Lukashenka to inspect renovation of National Opera and Ballet Theater

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is expected to inspect the renovation of the building of the National Opera and Ballet Theater in November, Culture Minister Uladzimir Matsveychuk, said at Tuesday’s news conference.

“You all know that if the head of state visits a project site, he always expresses a lot of critical remarks and all of them are for the good for the project,” the minister noted.

He expressed hope that the visit would result in a decision to build housing for the theater’s employees. “At least actors of the theater will ask for this,” he added.

The renovation of the National Opera and Ballet Theater, built in the 1930s, started in October 2005 and was set to be completed in 2008. A total of 34.5 billion rubels ($16.2 million) was reportedly provided for the project in 2006 and 73.3 billion rubels was allocated for renovation work in 2007.

The theater's ballet company moved to the Palace of the Republic after the renovation started, while operas began to be staged at the House of Officers.