BOLSHOI THEATRE

Description

Essentials about the Bolshoi Theatre in brief

For opera, theater and especially ballet lovers, a visit to the Bolshoi Theater (Great Theater) in Moscow is an absolute must. The performances and the ensemble of the Bolshoi enjoy an excellent reputation far beyond the borders of the Russian capital and Russia.

The history of the Bolshoi Theatre

Today’s Bolshoi Theater has existed since 1776, when Prince Peter Urusov was granted the exclusive right by Empress Catherine the Great to perform shows and sings in Moscow. The first actors were serfs of the prince. At first the performances were held in a private house, and it was not until 1780 that the theater building was erected at its present location.

At first the theater was named after the passing street Petrowski Theater. In the 18th century mainly operas of Russian composers were performed, but also dramas and ballets. In 1805 the theater building burned down and was rebuilt 20 years later by the architect Joseph Bové. In this course it also received its present name.

In 1853, another fire destroyed the entire interior of the theater. Only the outer walls remained standing. In the course of the reconstruction, the Italian architect Alberto Camillo Cavos furnished the building even more sumptuously with chandeliers, velvet panelling and gold decorations. Except for minor changes, the furnishings of the time have been preserved in their original state to this day. Due to its extraordinary architecture in the style of Russian classicism, the building of the Bolshoi Theater is certainly one of the most beautiful theater buildings in the world.

With its six-story auditorium that could seat almost 2,300 spectators, the Bolshoi Theater was the largest stage in the world at the time. Special attention was paid to the acoustics during the refurbishment. The use of special materials gave the Bolshoi Theater excellent acoustic properties. Even today, the Bolshoi is one of the stages with the best acoustics in the world.

The stages of the Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theater currently has 1,800 seats and an ensemble of around 900 actors, dancers, singers and musicians. If you have time, you should definitely try to get one of the coveted tickets in time. The Bolshoi Theater has two stages: The historic Main Stage and the New Stage. Advance ticket sales for both stages begin three months before the performance and tickets sell out quickly. This is taken advantage of by the ticket dealers, who sell their tickets every evening in front of the entrance to the Bolshoi Theater at far overpriced rates.

Those who could not get a ticket for a performance can also visit the Bolshoi Theater on a guided tour. Visitors can learn all the details about the history and architecture of the world-famous theater.