The Opera and Ballet Theatre (now the Taras Shevchenko National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine) stands on the site of the former City Theatre, which was destroyed by fire in 1896, and serves as the main architectural and compositional focal point of Teatralna Square.

Built in the Neo-Renaissance style, the structure features brick walls, vaulted ceilings in the vestibule and foyer, and flat reinforced-concrete floor slabs. The stage and auditorium roofs are supported by metal trusses. The grand staircase is made of white marble, while the secondary staircases are of granite. Architectural and sculptural elements of the façades are executed in artificial stone, and the roofing is made of sheet copper.

The façades combine geometric and floral relief ornamentation with sculptural figures of muses and winged griffins placed above the main entrance. The Renaissance detailing is complemented by metal canopies above the entrances, intricately decorated with dynamic vegetal motifs. These same motifs dominate the interior decoration, particularly in the auditorium, where they are interwoven with Baroque-style elements — mascarons, gilded floral ornaments, and three-armed wall sconces. The auditorium, arranged in five tiers, accommodates 1,312 spectators.

Construction was supervised by city architect Oleksandr Kryvosheiev from August 1898, later continued by architectural academician Volodymyr Nikolayev, assisted by architect Oleksandr Verbytskyi. The sculptural decoration of the building was created by the renowned Italian sculptor Elio Sala.

The theatre remains one of Kyiv’s most significant architectural landmarks, combining structural innovation, artistic craftsmanship, and the grandeur of Neo-Renaissance aesthetics.