Navoi Theater, Opera house in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Navoi Theater is an opera house in central Tashkent with a monumental facade of three arches, marble columns, and four tower-like structures resembling minarets. Inside, several halls spread across three floors, each styled after regional decorative traditions and connected by corridors with elaborate patterns.
Japanese prisoners of war worked on the theater's construction between 1945 and 1947, and their contribution was later honored with a memorial plaque. The building rose during the postwar reconstruction period and shaped the city's cultural landscape.
The building carries traditional elements from several Uzbek regions, with each foyer displaying craftsmanship from cities like Samarkand or Bukhara. The decoration connects local techniques to theater life, creating a bridge between historical art forms and current performance practice.
The stage accommodates large productions, and the seating holds around fourteen hundred people. A visit is worthwhile during the performance season when the program includes opera, ballet, or concerts and the foyers are accessible.
One hall in the building displays mirror work with carved stucco, modeled after techniques from the Summer Palace of the Bukhara Emirs. This method creates a play of light and patterns that has been valued in the region for centuries.
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