Alisher Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre

Tashkent has a full cultural life, some of it, such as drama, of interest mainly to Uzbek and Russian speakers. But one of Central Asia's best cultural bargains and a highlight for all visitors to Tashkent is the Alisher Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre, where you can enjoy quality classical Western opera almost any night (except during the months June to August). Shows change daily - in just a week you can see Swan Lake, Carmen, Rigoletto and the Uzbek opera Timur the Great.

The interior harbours various regional artistic styles - a different one in each room - executed by the best artisans of the day, and under the direction of the architect of Lenin's tomb in Moscow. Japanese POWs constructed the building itself in 1947. For sum3000 you can take a self-guided tour (book at the box office), but it's cheaper to see a show!