Central Palace of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

About

At the beginning of the 20th century, a lavish building rose on Gediminas Avenue, specifically designed for a state girls’ high school.

Designed by an unknown architect, the building was constructed according to a typical school project approved in Saint Petersburg at that time. Later, both boys’ and girls’ high schools operated here, and a war hospital was established. Finally, in 1945, the Vilnius Conservatory was founded in this building.

This sumptuous three-story building is classified as a historicist style, but at the time of its construction, it was considered to have conservative forms because in the early 20th century, Vilnius was experiencing a wave of Art Nouveau style. On the other hand, compared to other schools of that time, this school was the most expressive in terms of art.

Today, this palace is the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. The building’s architecture is influenced by music: its interior changes to accommodate the different needs of music education, but the authentic floor mosaic and wide stairs have been preserved to this day. Another interesting feature of the building is the balcony, which was harmoniously integrated into the overall architecture, although it was not part of the original design.

The architectural expression and evolution of the building reflect its century-long history, with its spaces are used today by the most talented creators.