The National Theater of Opera, Ballet, and Folk Ensemble (TKOBAP) marks its 71st anniversary today.

In a social media post, the Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation celebrated this milestone, highlighting 71 years of art, passion, and history.

“TKOBAP celebrates a long and illustrious journey, with generations of artists who have brought the magic of art to the stage and evoked unforgettable emotions,” the ministry wrote.

Founded on November 27, 1953, TKOBAP began with the premiere of “Rusalka,” an opera by Russian composer A.S. Dargomizhsky. Although it was initially part of the State Philharmonic, this date is recognized as the theater’s founding.

In 1956, the Council of Ministers established the Opera and Ballet Lyric Theater as an independent institution with 246 members. The following year, the National Ensemble of Songs and Dances was created and became part of TKOBAP.

In 1966, the theater moved to the Palace of Culture, where it continues to operate. Today, TKOBAP is the country’s largest music and performing arts institution, with a repertoire of both Albanian and international works.

The institution employs around 250 full-time artists, including orchestra members, choir singers, ballet dancers, lyric soloists, and folk ensemble performers.

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