History of Kutaisi Opera Theater is connected with establishment of Public Theater in 1959 during Soviet Union, which was headed and conducted by Mr. Teimuraz Kobakhidze; Director – Otar Aleksidze, chapel-master – Leo Pachulia.

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On 21 November 1960 IX Anniversary Olympiad of 40 yers of Amateur Artistic Performances was held in Tbilisi, where Kutaisi Public Opera presented opera “Daisi” by Z. Paliashvili. This fact laid foundation for establishment of Opera theater in Kutaisi. By force of the minister of culture of that time Otar Taktakishvili, director of Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theater and Artistic director of the Public Theater Teimuraz Kobakhidze, Kutaisi branch of Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Theater was established and solemnly opened on 27 December 1969 with the opera “Abesalom and Eteri” by Z. Paliashvili. Executive director of the play was Givi Gachechiladze, chapel-masters Avtandil Ganugrava and Avtandil Machavariani, ballet-master – Anzor Macharadze, artist – Ivane Askurava; concert-masters Rusudan Kiladze, Medea Kobakhidze, Lali Javakhadze, Manige Pirtskhalaishvili. Main parties were played by – Zurab Anjaparidze, Medea and Petre Amiranashvilis, Iuza Kutateladze, Liana Ghvedashvili, Natela Tughushi, Olia Tchurghulia, Vladimer Kandelaki, Anzor Gogolashvili, Ioseb Otskheli. The play was conducted by the main conductor of the theater, honored figure of Georgian art – Teimuraz Kobakhidze.

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On 23 July 1990 the theater became independent and was named after M. Balanchivadze. Until now the theater performed multiple opera and ballet plays.

Theater stands out via diversity of national operas. The operas like “Abesalom and Eteri” and “Daisi” by Z. Paliashvili, “Darejan the sly” by M. Balanchivadze, “Mindia” and “The first love” by O. Taktakishvili, “Lela” by R. Laghidze, “Medea” by B. Kvernadze, “Nortern bride” by D. Toradze, “Bachi-Achuki” by A. Kereselidze, “Keto and Kote” by V. Dolidze, “Little Red Riding Hood” by V. Gokieli, etc.

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At this moment operas by Georgian, Russian and Western European composers are staged in the theater.