Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre 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 partly in 2008 with complete renovation finished in 2010. You can still see performances at the Novaya Tsena (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 on their Web site, because performances can sell out quickly. 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 RAMT (Russian Academic Youth Theater), which puts on performances with a talented group of young actors. 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.