Varna Opera, also known as the State Opera Varna and the Opera-Philharmonic Society – Varna, is a leading cultural institution in Varna. It currently occupies a beautiful Baroque-style building shared with the Stoyan Bachvarov Drama Theater, located at the central Independence Square. The theater and opera building was designed by architect Nikola Lazarov, who also designed the National Theater in Sofia. The foundation stone was laid in 1912. Construction was completed only after World War I, and the theater moved into the building in 1932. The opera company was officially registered on April 6, 1947, and officially opened on August 1 of the same year. Its first chief artistic director was the renowned Bulgarian singer Petar Raychev. In 1999, Varna Opera merged with the Varna Philharmonic to form a state cultural institution named the Opera-Philharmonic Society – Varna. Address: 1 Independence Square, 9000 Varna Center, Varna Phone: +359 52 66 96 51 Box Office: +359 52 66 50 22 Email: drama_varna@yahoo.com