The State Academic Bolshoi Theater has long become one of the main attractions of Moscow, a symbol of the cultural life of the capital and the whole country. It is located in the very center of the capital, not far from the Kremlin. Today it is a place where the best opera and ballet classical works are shown.
By decree of the empress
In March 1776, Catherine the Great signed a “privilege” in relation to Prince Peter Urusov. He was given the right to maintain and conduct performances, entertainment, theater performances, masquerades and balls for a period of ten years. The official date of the Bolshoi is March 28, 1776.
Later, the prince transferred his rights to the English entrepreneur Michael Meddox, who, nevertheless, could not cope with the leadership. As a result, the theater was transferred to the Public Board of Trustees for debts.
During its existence, the theater building was destroyed by fire several times, but was restored. The status of the theater troupe has also changed. Since 1862, it came under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of the Imperial House, then it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Governor General. The change of management principles took place until 1917, when the theater was nationalized and divided into Big and Small.
In the photo you can see the interior of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater in Moscow.
Riddle of the name: why "Big"?
The first theater building was built with the money of Meddox on the right side of Neglinka and overlooked Petrovka Street. Therefore, his name was originally Petrovsky.
The three-story brick building with white details rose five meters and cost 130 thousand silver rubles. In 1805, it burned down. In 1812, during the Patriotic War, the Arbat wooden theater building was burned down a second time by the design of K. Rossini.
In 1820, construction began on a new building designed by Osip Bove. The new building of the theater towered 32 meters above Theater Square. The building was magnificent and beautiful, surpassed the famous St. Petersburg opera and was called the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater. Here is what S. Aksakov wrote about the opening of the new theater building:
The Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater, which arose from old, charred ruins, amazed and delighted me ... A magnificent huge building, exclusively dedicated to my favorite art, already in its very appearance led me into joyful excitement.
It served the culture for 30 years, but in 1853 it suffered the same sad fate - a fire.
The restoration competition was won by the architect Albert Kavos, who specialized in the creation of theaters and was well versed in the intricacies of such premises. He managed to create an exceptional building of the Opera and Ballet Theater in Moscow.
- The height of the building was increased from 32 to 36 m.
- A second pediment was added to the porticoes with Beauvais columns.
- The famous alabaster three of Apollo is replaced by a quadriga of bronze.
- Alabaster bas-reliefs with flying geniuses with lyre adorned the interior of the pediment.
- The capitals of the columns have changed. The side facades were decorated with sloping visors on cast-iron posts.
Below you can see an old photo of 1883, which depicts the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater in Moscow.
Here is what architect Kavos said about this:
I tried to decorate the auditorium as magnificently and at the same time as easily as possible, in the taste of the Renaissance, mixed with the Byzantine style. The white color strewn with gold, the bright raspberry draperies of the inner boxes, the plaster arabesques on each floor and the main effect of the auditorium - a large chandelier of three rows of lamps and candelabra decorated with crystal - all this earned universal acclaim.
In connection with the opening of the new building of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, it was decided to continue to celebrate the coronation of the emperor in Moscow. In honor of this event, a special performance was given on the stage, and the monogram of Emperor Alexander II was placed above the royal box.
In the photo below - the large acoustic hall (Beethoven Hall) of the Opera and Ballet Theater in Moscow. You can stand in the center of the room and speak in an ordinary voice, but you will hear it in all corners. Once the emperor delivered his speeches here to the assembled guests.
Organ music was not always
Today, the Bolshoi is rightfully considered one of the best theaters in the world, especially after the reconstruction of 2011, which significantly increased its capabilities. There are three scenes:
- historical;
- new;
- Beethoven Hall.
The new stage was built in 2002 and is located in the building to the left of the Bolshoi Theater. Beethoven Hall was rebuilt after the last reconstruction and is located on the ground floor of a historic building. Concerts and performances for children are held here.
There was a place for the organ, because all the leading theaters in the world are proud of their organ music halls. The first instrument of the German company Eberhard Friedrich Walker was installed in the Moscow Opera Theater in 1913. But, unfortunately, it was dismantled. And in 2013, a new organ of the German company Glatter-Getz was established with a gala presentation and participation of organists and musicians of the Bolshoi Theater.
The instrument is located on the left side of the stage, at a height of 10 meters in a special gallery. The tubes are hidden in a wooden case, there are additional sliding blinds. The organ is equipped with a mobile remote control, which allows the performer to be in an orchestra pit or even on stage.
Opera in Moscow (Bolshoi Theater), for example, "Tosca", an overture to the "Magic Flute" by Mozart takes place with the inclusion of organ music, which gives a special solemnity to the production. In the photo below you can see the four-handed performance of the Dragee fairy dance from The Nutcracker, transposed to organ music.
This is the seventh largest pipe organ in Moscow. He has two manuals, a pedal keyboard, 32 registers, 1819 metal pipes and one hundred wooden ones. The weight of the new organ is about eighty tons.
Stage Seasons
Anyone who wants to see not only ballet, but also opera in Moscow at the Bolshoi Theater, as well as to consider and admire the arrangement and decoration of the theater building, should prefer performances that are staged on the historical stage.
It should be remembered that the exhibitions that are organized here are available only to those visitors who have purchased tickets for staging or excursions.
In addition, Bolshoi organizes seasonal productions. For example, in the winter, from the second half of December, sometimes during the Christmas week, the production of The Nutcracker takes place . A delightful Swan Lake is usually held in September and January.
Tickets to the main and new halls are sold three months before the start of the performance. To Beethoven Hall - in two months. Famous and iconic shows are in special demand, and tickets can be sold during pre-sale at the box office.
Tours to the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater in Moscow are also organized. During familiarization, visitors can take photos. But in order to see the museum’s exposition, you need to purchase a ticket for the performance.
Visitors are allowed to photograph everything except stage rehearsals. The theater has its own museum, but you cannot visit it separately. Museum exhibitions are held in the exhibition and choral halls.