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Bolshoi Theater Review

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Bolshoi Theater

Address: 1 Teatralnaya Pl., Moscow
Phone: 495/292-9986; 495/250-7317 tickets
www.bolshoi.ru

Category: Arts/Performance Venues
Location: Kitai Gorod

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 5.0/5

Fodor's Review:

Moscow's "big" (bolshoi means "big") and oldest theater, formerly known as the Great Imperial Theater, was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1854. Its main building is closed for a renovation and is expected to reopen in 2009 but you can still see performances at the Novaya Stsena (New Stage) to the left of it. The building itself is remarkable: its monumental colonnade is topped by a statue of bronze horses pulling the chariot of Apollo, patron of music. Its crimson-and-gold interior is similarly grand. All of this splendor is matched by the quality of the resident opera and ballet troupes—two of the most famous performing-arts companies in the world. If you want to have the pleasure of seeing a performance at the Bolshoi, be sure to book one of its 2,155 seats as far as possible in advance, because performances can sell out quickly. Tickets can be bought in advance on the Bolshoi's Web site, and touts sell tickets outside the theater just before performances, sometimes at reasonable prices (though more often at exorbitant prices). An interesting footnote in the theater's and the Soviet Union's history: Lenin made his last public speech here, in 1922. Also to the left of the Bolshoi is the Tsentralny Detsky Teatr (Central Children's Theater), which puts on traditional performances for a younger audience. This is where you'll find the Bolshoi's main ticket office. The plaza, with fountains and fine wooden benches, is a nice spot for a relaxing look at the theater.

Metro: Teatralnaya

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Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by ArkieTraveler from U.S. on 12/20/06
Spent the month of October couple of years back and yearn to go again. We had box seats next to the Csar's box for the opera. The building was beautiful then and fully expect to go again for the re-opening.