An imposing yellow neoclassical opera house from 1955, with columned facade and tall arched windows. It still hosts a regular season of opera, ballet and orchestral concerts at extremely low ticket prices — five US dollars buys a good seat for a Tchaikovsky ballet. The interior is grand in the standard Soviet socialist-realist mode: chandeliers, gilt mouldings, plush red velvet.
The Bishkek season runs roughly September to June; programmes can be checked at the box office or on the company website.