Georgian Opera and ballet theatre, located in the city of Tbilisi, is the largest musical theater in the country. City theatre was founded in 1851 by Governor Mikhail Vorontsov. Its construction began in April 1847, the Author of this project by the famous architect Antonio Scuderi. Painting of the new theatre was made by famous Russian artist Grigory Gagarin.

Despite the fact that in Tbilisi in 1851, there were several theatres, Opera and ballet quickly became the center of cultural life of the city. In November 1851, opened the first theatre season with a production of "Lucia di Lammermoor" by G. Donizetti. The Georgian repertoire Opera house consisted mainly of operas by G. Verdi. Verdi, G. Verdi. Rossini, J. Meyerbeer, Donizetti, V. Bellini, F. Ober, F. Halevy, V. Mozart.

In October 1874, due to heavy fire theater building was destroyed. During the fire burned down the decorations, costumes, music library and tools, resulting in the establishment was closed. New life house began in 1896 in the new building. Theatre season opened with a production of the Opera "Ivan Susanin" by Glinka. On the stage of the Georgian theater of Opera and ballet were first staged Opera of Georgian composers such as: Z. Paliashvili "Abesalom and Eteri" and "Daisi", Dolidze Opera "Keto and Kote" on credit "the Legend of Shota Rustaveli", M. Balanchivadze "sly Tamara, Tsintsadze "the Hermit" and many others.

For many years, the theatre has produced many famous figures of culture and art, including I. Paliashvili, after whom was named the theatre in 1937 It was here that began the career of the future founders of the folk dance ensemble of Georgia - N. Ramishvili and I. Sukhishvili.

At the end of the twentieth century the theatre began to decline. In the postwar period, the state did not have sufficient funds for its maintenance. At the beginning of the 2000s, local authorities have radically changed the attitude to the Georgian theater of Opera and ballet and began his sponsorship.