It was founded in the distant 1945 within the Macedonian National Theatre which was composed of a drama, opera and ballet ensemble, the National Institution National Opera and Ballet is the largest institution in the field of culture in the Republic of North Macedonia.

From then until today, a huge number of pieces from the world's opera and ballet literature have been performed on the stage, pieces that are part of the repertoires of the biggest stages in the world. At the same time, a huge number of artists and authors from Europe and around the world have been guests in the NI National Opera and Ballet.

In its more than seven decades of existence, the National Opera has always been an active actor in the musical life of our country. From its foundation in 1947 with the performance of the opera "Cavaleria Rusticana", until today, in its development, it has directed the focus of its activities on several important components: commitment to constantly raising and enriching the quality of its performances; expansion of the repertoire with new works from all eras; correct and thought-out personnel policy; hiring artists from all over the world with a proven and confirmed high reputation; professionalization of collective bodies, choir and orchestra.

If we add to this the increasing interest of the audience with its increasingly massive presence at the opera and ballet performances, it becomes necessary to organize a manifestation that will contain opera, ballet, concert events and other contents as the end of the season. Thus, in 1972, the idea of organizing a festival was realized and throughout the years it gained international reputation and it was named "May Opera Evenings".