In 1939, on the initiative of the Head of the Department of Solo Singing of the Belarusian State Conservatory, Professor P. Tikhonov, an opera studio was created at the conservatory. The studio was headed by Professor A. Shperling, then she was replaced by Associate Professor S. Kapara. Conductors N. Balazovsky and R. Rubinstein, director P. Zlatogorov worked in the studio, who did a lot to improve the level of acting skills of Belarusian singers. The best performers of opera roles were students R. Evraev, E. Pashkova, L. Tupchenko, O. Furs, M. Gorelik, S. Eisenberg, E. Shareiko. In two years (1939–1941), the operas “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Eugene Onegin”, “The Barber of Seville”, and the musical comedy “Kok-sagyz” by N. Churkin were staged, which received recognition from the wider musical community. Violinists B. Afanasyev, N. Bratennikov and S. Osnovich began their professional careers in the opera studio orchestra; V. Borisenko and L. Maslennikova (both later People’s Artists of the RSFSR, soloists of the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR) sang in the studio choir.
The opera studio was again organized in 1960 and since then has been directly connected with the Opera and Choreography Department. The studio was headed by director S. Kapara. Stage preparation was conducted by conductors I. Gitgarts, R. Rubinstein, S. Ratner, directors N. Serdobov and Yu. Uzhentsev. A significant role in the work of the Department was played by the senior teachers: N.N. Serdobov, a famous opera singer and opera enthusiast, and D.M. Rumyantsev. Since 1964, the department was headed by Yu. Novikov, taught by G. Dugashev, L. Lyakh, R. Evraev, V. Zakharov and others. In 1960–1973, more than 20 operas were staged, among, almost half of their repertoire was occupied by Soviet and Belarusian performances. A notable phenomenon in the country’s musical art was the first production of P. Podkovyrov’s opera “Pavel Korchagin” based on N. Ostrovsky’s novel “How the Steel Was Tempered” (1967).
Since 1975, the Opera and Choreography Department was headed by Yu. Uzhentsev. S. Stein, M. Izvorska-Elizaryeva, A. Lapunov, O. Dadishkiliani were invited to work at the department. Between 1975 and 1978 The opera studio showed eight new performances, including operas by Belarusian authors. After the sudden death of Yu. Uzhentsev, the Department was headed (from September 1979 to 1983) by Honored Artist of the BSSR V. Goncharenko, who had extensive experience as an opera singer. During this time, several performances were staged; the operas “The Barber of Seville” and “Pagliacci” received the greatest recognition. Professor of the Moscow State Conservatory E. Ratzer, being the chairman of the State Examination Committee, noted that “the Department is growing creatively, the performances are staged academically competently, with good taste; this is an undeniable success of the opera studio, an excellent educational work.”
From 1983 to 2012, the Opera and Choreography Department was headed by Honored Artist of the BSSR, Associate Professor M. Zdanevich. Until 2012, the opera studio staged more than 40 opera performances, which were a great success with the audience: the operas “Carmen”, “Pagliacci”, “Eugene Onegin”, “Rural Honor”, “Mother Courage”, “Elisir of Love” , “The Barber of Seville”, “The Marriage of Figaro”, “La Traviata”, “Iolanta”, “Faust”, etc.
A huge contribution to the work of the Department was made by Honored Artist of the BSSR E. Pavlovich, Honored Artist of the BSSR T. Alekseeva, People’s Artist of Belarus N. Davydenko, People’s Artist of the BSSR S. Shtein, senior teachers I. Smushkevich and S.Nikipelova. In recent years, Professor Yu. Novikov, whose work experience at the Department was over 25 years, and Associate Professor E. Arashkevich, completed their careers at the Department.
The Department of Choreography was organized in 1994 under the leadership of Honored Artist of the BSSR, laureate of the State Prize of Belarus, Doctor of Art History, Professor Yu. Churko. For the first time in the republic, the training of choreographers with higher education began. In September 2010, the Department of Choreography was headed by People’s Artist of the USSR, Professor V. Elizariev. On April 25, 2011, the department of Opera Training was merged with the Department of Choreography.
From 2013 to 2022, the Opera and Choreography Department was headed by I. Garanets. During this period, more than 25 performances were staged, including “The Bat”, “Eugene Onegin”, “La Traviata”, “This Is What All Women Do”, “Iolanta”, “Seven Brides and One Groom”, “The Magic Flute”, “ Child and Magic”, “The Tsar’s Bride”, “La Boheme”, “Bastien and Bastienne”, “Faust”, “Aleko”, etc.
The teaching staff of the Department has been significantly updated. Currently there are teaching Irina Krikunova (Head of the Department), Professor Valentin Elizariev, Professor Viktor Sarkisyan, Professor Alexander Anisimov, Associate Professor Anna Motornaya, Associate Professor Olga Lappo, Associate Professor Natalya Furman, Associate Professor Alexander Vysotsky, senior teachers Nina Dyachenko, Sergey Mikel, Marina Tretyakova, Yuri Karavaev, teachers Ksenia Meleshko and Dmitry Bakhtalin.
The educational activities of the Department are based on the best examples of domestic and world opera culture and are aimed at achieving high professional excellence, developing natural vocal and acting abilities, and developing creative individuality.
