On the front of the building are the figures of Melpomene (the Muse of tragedy) and Terpsichore (the Muse of dancing) which are the works by Italian sculptor Elio Sala. In the niche above the central entrance, a bust of the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was installed.
The theatre seats 1628 spectators. Many domestic and foreign operas and ballets have been produced, and numerous brilliant Ukrainian opera singers (B.Hmyria, O.Petrusenko, I.Patorzhinski, M.Lytvynenko-Volhemut, A.Solovianenko) and world-famous stars (F.Shaliapin, G.Anselmi, L.Cavalieri, A.Nezhdanova) appeared on its stage.
Certain extraordinary events are associated with the theatre. In 1911, during the spectacle interval, here was mortally wounded a well-known Russian statesman P.Stolypin who was then buried on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. In June 1917, here was held the 2nd All-Ukrainian Military Congress which proclaimed the 1st Universal of the Tsentralna Rada (Central Council).
In 1965, on Teatralna Square not far from the Opera-House, was installed a monument to Mykola Lysenko, outstanding Ukrainian composer and author of such operas as Natalka-Poltavka, Taras Bulba, Aeneid.
