The building of the theater was designed by Alexander Bryullov. A typical feature of the theater auditorium is an amphitheater replacing the stalls.

The opening ceremony took place in the theater on November 8, 1833. The theater was named Mikhailovsky after Mikhail, a brother of Nicholas I.

Originally, the theater building was mainly used as a concert hall. Yet, even during the first years of its existence, in addition to dramas and vaudevilles performed by the company of Alexandrinsky Theater and by visiting French and German companies, there were a few opera performances.

As the number of theatergoers increased, and as opera performances became more frequent, the architect Albert Cavos who had designed Mariinsky Theater rebuilt this theater in 1859. To add 200 more seats, the auditorium was enlarged and a gallery was added. At the same time, the stage was also enlarged, offices and service rooms were added.

The modest decorations designed by Alexander Bryullov and imitating Ancient architecture were replaced by Renaissance and Baroque decorations. The interiors of the Smaller Opera and ballet Theater (as it was later named) have remained almost without changes since the time the interiors of Mikhailovsky Theater were redecorated to a design by Albert Cavos. The foyers are decorated with mirrors and exquisite stucco.

During the first years after the 1917 revolution, this was a branch of Mariinsky Theater. In 1920, it became the Comic Opera Theater, in 1926 – the Smaller Opera Theater. Works of Russian and international opera classics were staged here. In 1933, a ballet company was founded at the theater by the outstanding 20-th -century choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov. Originally, it was a modern ballet company with its unique repertoire and unique style.

At various epochs, such outstanding people as Fyodor Chaliapine, Sergei Lemeshev, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Dmitry Shostakovich, Leonid Yakobson, Valery Vinogradov, Yuri Marusin, Yuri Temirkanov, Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya worked here.

In 1984, the first international guest tour of the opera company took place. Since that time, there have been many guest tours to Italy, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, the U.S.A. and Portugal. The theater continues the best traditions of the Russian opera.

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