Odessa is a relatively new city with construction starting in 1792, and the cities first architects and governors were French. The Duc de Richelieu was the first governor, and he initiated the construction of the first City Theatre which was designed by French architect Jean-François Thomas de Thomon. The theatre was built in the classical antique style, with the portico, columns and the triangular fronton (pediment). It opened in 1810 but unfortunately was completely destroyed by fire in 1873. The modern building was constructed by Fellner & Helmer in the neo-baroque (Vienna Baroque) style and opened in 1887. The architecture of the luxurious audience hall follows the late French rococo style. The unique acoustics of the horseshoe-designed hall allows performers to deliver even a whisper-low tone of voice from the stage to any part of the hall. The most recent renovation of the theatre was completed in 2007. The theatre is considered to be a masterpiece of world-class architecture and is a source of great city pride.

Odessa is a port city on the Black Sea in southern Ukraine. It is known for its beaches and 19th-century architecture, including the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre. The monumental Potemkin Stairs, immortalized in "The Battleship Potemkin," lead down to the waterfront with its Vorontsov Lighthouse. Running parallel to the water, the grand Primorsky Boulevard is a popular promenade lined with mansions and monuments.

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