Kyiv doesn’t have any theatrical districts per se; theatres and concert halls are scattered all around the city.
But most important ones - Ukrainian Drama, Russian Drama, the Opera House, the Philharmonic House, the Music Academy etc - are located more or less close to each other in downtown.
Schedule of events
None of the music houses in Kyiv, especially Classic ones, makes on-line announcements of the schedule of events too early.
Normally you can expect a three-week prior announcement.
Buying tickets
Tickets price does not vary with time. Price depends only on the quality of the seat and on the performance itself (premier nights are always more expensive; as well as the visiting artists’ performances).
Except for the most popular events, tickets are rarely sold out, so there’s normally no problem to book upon arrival or on the eve of the event you want to visit. Normally the cheapest tickets are sold out first.
The best way is to book tickets directly from the Houses/Theatres, or from the theatre booking offices around the city. Many of these kiosks are in downtown:
(a) along Khreshchatyk Str: kiosk on 29 Khreshchatyk (near Orbita cinema); ticket office on 21 Khreshchatyk (near Khreshchatyk subway station), kiosk on the opposite side to Khreshchatyk hotel (7/11 Khreshchatyk Str). There’s also a kiosk on 8 Khmelnitskogo Str (near Teatralna subway station);
(b) ticket desks in the underground shopping molls: “Globus” at Maidan (Independence Sq) and “Metrograd” near Bessarabka;
(c) ticket offices on 51/52 Volodymyrska Str. (opposite Opera house) and 16 Chervonoarmiyska Str (near L’va Tolstogo subway station).
Tickets for Philharmonics can be purchased from the Philharmonic house only; they are not distributed through the kiosks.
None of the music houses in Kyiv presently sells tickets on-line directly.
Booking on-line is possible via the “intermediary” ticket sellers only. They charge extra both for the service and for the delivery, if requested. Payment is normally against the delivery/pick up only. They do not deliver outside Kyiv.
The ticket sales’ intermediaries often don’t have English web-sites.
Selected MUSIC HOUSES for classic, jazz and sacred music
Taras Shevchenko NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE
Classic Opera and Ballet.
Located 50 Volodymyrska Str. / вул. Володимирська, 50
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NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC HOUSE
Classic music, symphonic and chamber concerts.
Located 2 Volodymyrsky uzviz (European Sq.) / Володимирський узвіз, 2
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MUSIC ACADEMY OF UKRAINE
LYSENKO (GREAT) CONCERT HALL, SMALL CONCERT HALL: chamber concerts; jazz festivals and concerts; classic, contemporary music concerts; operas and shows by Music Academy students etc.
Located 1-3/11 Arkhitektora Horodetskogo Str. (Independence Sq.) / вул. Архітектора Городецького, 1-3/11 (майдан Незалежності)
No web-site except this one, of the Music Academy Opera Studio, in Russian.
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NATIONAL OPERETTA THEATRE
Classic Operettas.
Located 53/3 Velyka Vasylkivska (former Chervonoarmijska) Str. / вул. Велика Васильківська, 53/3
Web-site is in Ukrainian only and Google translate won’t help, because the schedule of events is made as a picture.
Theatre page at one of the ticket intermediaries, in Russian
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NATIONAL ORGAN HALL
Also acting St. Nicolas Cathedral
Organ concerts, chamber concerts.
Located 77 Velyka Vasylkivska (former Chervonoarmijska) Str. / вул. Велика Васильківська, 77
Web-site is in Russian and Ukrainian, but Google Translate can help.
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INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR CULTURE AND ARTS
Former October Palace
Drama performances; chamber concerts; classic, jazz and pop concerts; “road” shows).
Located 1 Instytutska Str. / вул. Інститутська, 1
Has no web-site. Centre page at one of the ticket intermediaries, in Russian.
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ST. ALEXANDER CATHEDRAL
Sacred music; chorus. Acting Catholic Church.
Located 17 Kostyolna Str. / вул. Костьольна, 17
Kind of official web-site here http://community.livejournal.com/st_a...
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THE HOUSE OF SCIENTISTS
Chamber, classic, folk concerts, literature clubs etc.
Located 45A Volodymyrska Str. / вул. Володимирська, 45А
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MUNICIPAL OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE FOR CHILDREN
Classical Opera and Ballet; (rarely) drama performances.
Located 2 Mezhygirska Str. / вул. Межигірська. 2
Has no web-site. Theatre page at one of the ticket intermediaries, in Russian and Ukrainian
Selected CONCERT HALLS for contemporary music and performances
UKRAINE PALACE (Palats Ukraina) CONCERT HALL
Pop concerts, performances, shows of visiting artists.
Located 103 Velyka Vasylkivska (former Chervonoarmijska) Str. / вул. Велика Васильківська, 103
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CENTRE FOR CULTURE AND ARTS OF NATIONAL AVIATION UNIVERSITY
Rock, pop, contemporary music concerts; performances; shows of visiting artists. Mostly visited by younger generation.
Located 1 Kosmonavta Komarova Ave. / пр-т Космонавта Комарова, 1
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FREEDOM CONCERT HALL
Club, restaurant, show hall. Stands in the upper price range. Dancing shows, pop music concerts etc.
Located 134 Frunze Str. / вул. Фрунзе, 134
Web-site is in Ukrainian and the schedule of events doesn’t show too much.
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CHAIKA AIR FIELD
Many music festivals and rock concerts are held on CHAIKA AIR FIELD (ukr. Aerodrom Chaika), at the city suburbs. Mostly visited by younger generation. Cool place.
No web-site with the schedule of events, but events are listed on the ticket intermediaries’ pages, for example, here, in Russian http://1001bilet.com.ua/sport-komplek...
Selected MUSIC FESTIVALS in Kyiv
KRAINA MRIY
This ethnic festival is a must to visit if you are in Kyiv at the time when it takes place.
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KYIV SUMMER MUSIC EVENINGS
Kyiv Summer Music Evenings are lovely open air chamber concerts. Entrance is free.
Held every summer summer, at the Summer Concert Hall in Mariinksi Park between Mariinski palace and Dynamo Stadium. The schedule of events is usually announced closer to its opening.
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VLADIMIR HOROWITZ COMPETITION
International competition of young pianists in memory of Vladimir Horowitz.
Normally held in spring. Takes place in the Philharmonic house.
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Other
In the end of June Kyiv celebrates the Young People Day, and lots of music events are normally held over the holiday week-end.
Selected on-line ticket sale intermediaries
Web-sites contain the schedule of events. Mainly are in Russian/Ukrainian, but Google Translate can be helpful.
http://www.parter.ua/en/event/42/79.html - the only one found in English so far; though English version is not comprehensive
http://www.show-ticket.com.ua/
http://biletik.ua/
http://repertuar.com.ua/
http://karabas.com/