As early as the 19th century, temporary opera, choral, and symphonic troupes began to form in Ruse, a result of the serious contact with European musical culture, which reached the city via the Danube River. The Ruse Opera was founded in 1949, and its first production was Verdi's "La Traviata".

In 1999, the Ruse National Opera and the State Philharmonic-Ruse - Ruse merged into one institution, which was initially called the Opera and Philharmonic Society-Ruse, and since 2010 - the State Opera-Ruse.

The State Opera-Ruse has been awarded the "Crystal Lyre" prize several times in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2012 and 2014.