Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre of S.A. Krushelnytska is also known as Lviv National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of S.A. Krushelnytska. It is located on the Prospect of Freedom, 28.

Despite the long existence of the theatrical group in Lviv, it was decided to build a separate building for it only at the end of the XIX century, so in 1895, it was announced the competition to design the building. The winner of this contest was the director of the Art School Z. Gorgolevsky, who suggested the best place to build the theater. He proposed to start construction in the city center, and due to the fact that in the XX century the entire center was built, Gorgolevsky provided a draft on which the city river Poltva was covered with concrete vaults, which should hold the theater building. Following the approval of the project there began the three-year construction in June 1897. All construction and excavation works were led by Z. Gorgolevsky.

At the end of the 19th century, Lviv felt the need for a large city theatre. In 1895, the city announced an architectural competition for the best design, which attracted a large number of projects. An independent jury unhesitatingly chose the design by Zygmunt Gorgolewski, a graduate of the Berlin Building Academy and the Director of the Lwów higher art-industrial school. Gorgolewski pleasantly surprised the jury by planning to locate the building in the centre of the city, although it was already densely built-up. In order to solve the space problem, he boldly proposed to enclose the Poltva River underground, and instead of using a traditional foundation, use a solid concrete base for the first time in Europe.

In June 1897, the first stone was placed. Gorgolewski directed construction, earthwork and decorating tasks, employing the leading masters from Lviv and abroad. Local materials were used for the construction. Marble elements were manufactured in Vienna, whereas Belgium provided special linen for painting the foyer. The Austrian company "Siemens" was responsible for assembling the electric lights, while the hydraulic mechanization of the stage was built by the Polish railway workshop company in Sanok. Construction continued for three years. Funding came from Lwów, the surrounding communities, and from voluntary donations. The cost of the works totaled 6 million Austrian crowns.

The Lviv Opera opened on October 4, 1900. The cultural elite attended the opening festivities. Among the guests attending the ceremony were Henryk Sienkiewicz (writer), Ignacy Jan Paderewski (composer) and Henryk Siemiradzki (painter), Godzimir Małachowski (the president of Lwów), governor Leon Piniński and Marshal of Galicia Count Stanisław Badeni. A delegation from the city of Prague was headed by mayor Vladimir Srb and former headmaster of the National Theatre František Adolf Šubert. Due to the fact that both the Catholic and Orthodox archbishops had died recently, the building was blessed by the archbishop of the Armenian rite Izaak Mikołaj Isakowicz, in presence of rabbi Ezechiel Caro and the Protestant pastor Garfel.

The theater building was constructed in the classical tradition in the style of Viennese pseudo Renaissance: architecture combined the styles of Baroque and Renaissance, the interior was decorated with works by famous sculptors and artists. The decor was developed by A. Popel, Z. Rozvadovsky, P. Voitovich, M. Gerasimovich, S. Reyhan and others.

The ceremonial opening of the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theater was held on Oct. 4, 1900. It was named Big City Theatre (the name changed only in 1939), and the festival, dedicated to its opening. The first performance, shown on the new stage, was a dramatic opera by V. Zhelensky "Yanek".

34 years later the theater was closed for five years because of the economic crisis. In 1939, this building hold people’s meetings of Western Ukraine and soon after the theatrical group work again resumed.

With the opening of the theater, it was known as Lviv State Opera House, in 1956 it was named after Ivan Franko, and 10 years later, in 1966, it received the honorary title of "academic". In the late 70-ies of XX century the building of the theater was closed for renovation and opened in 1984, and in 1996 in this building there was another meeting of the Presidents of countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, designed by architect Zygmunt Gorgolewski, the Grand Theatre in Lviv has been compared to the Paris and Vienna opera houses. Standing in front of the magnificent façade of this marvellous building, one can feel the overwhelming power of art, its eternity in contrast with the transience of human life. This building comprises various European architectural styles fashioned in all their lavishness.

The Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet is built in the classical tradition with using forms and details of Renaissance and Baroque architecture, also known as the Viennese neo-Renaissance style. The stucco mouldings and oil paintings on the walls and ceilings of the multi-tiered auditorium and foyer give it a richly festive appearance. The Opera's imposing facade is opulently decorated with numerous niches, Corinthian columns, pilasters, balustrades, cornices, statues, reliefs and stucco garlands. Standing in niches on either side of the main entrance are allegorical figures representing Comedy and Tragedy sculpted by Antoni Popiel and Tadeusz Baroncz; figures of muses embellish the top of the cornice. The building is crowned by large bronze statues, symbolizing Glory, Poetry and Music.

The façade forms are very complicated and diverse: columns, balustrades, and niches filled with allegorical sculptures. Statues of eight muses rise above the main cornice of the façade, and above them stands the grand ten-figure composition of The Joys and Miseries of Life. The fronton above is completed with a sculptural triad of the winged bronze figures of the genii of Drama, Comedy and Tragedy, and in the centre stands Glory with a gold palm branch in her hand. These sculptures were created by the hands of the outstanding Lviv artists Popiel, Baroncz, and Viytovych.

The interior of the Lviv Opera House is no less amazing than the exterior. The internal decoration is gilded (with a few kilograms of gold), adorned with different-coloured marble, decorative paintings, and sculptures. The four-circled lyre-shaped hall accommodates over a thousand people. Embellishing the stage, the decorative curtain Parnassus (1900), painted by Henryk Siemiradzki, represents an allegorical image of the meaning of life in the Parnassus figures. The hall of the Lviv Opera House is remarkable for its perfect acoustics. On offer are performances by celebrated opera and ballet troupes of Ukraine as well as distinguished guest performers from abroad. The Lviv Opera House is the host venue for the recently revived Vienna Balls.