Author: Yulia Fedorova
Interpreter: Kristina Fedorova- Suponeva
The Bolshoi Theater… sounds like sounds something inaccessible, isn’t it? We all can easily identify facade of the historical building at Theatral square. This huge building in the imperial style, kind of an antique temple and an impregnable fortress at the same time. They say that its necessary to pay 100 thousand rubles or stand in long line all night to buy tickets and get into. But to tell in strict confidence, its not the truth.
©Yulia Fedorova / Journalist Online
Address: Theatral square, 1
Ticket price: 100-15000 rubles (in some cases can be higher)
Perhaps, every Russian resident has seen a photo of the historical building of the Big Theater. Or, at least, its image on a hundred rubles bill. Nevertheless, this interior overwhelms everyone who comes inside in the first.
©Yulia Fedorova / Journalist Online
Before a performance usherettes (women in red costumes, who help wandering theater-goer to find their seats) would recommend you to examine a 3rd floor of the building. Do not ignore their advises, because you would find a luxurious foyer there. As soon as you come there you feel as an aristocrat at the audience with emperor. White vases with plants, golden chandeliers and lamps, huge windows with scarlet drapery surround you. And if you look up you can find a roof grizayle painted. An elegant white grand piano completes this composition.
As soon as you enjoy a gorgeous white foyer, examine and other halls. You can easily find two emperor s foyers, its walls are protracted with scarlet silk. This material was hand crafted specially for the theater in glens of Moscow Novopasski monastery.
A little foyer also has its secret: if you stand in a middle of the stage your voice would become stronger and louder in a few times. According to legend, such acoustics was developed specially for Nicolai2 who didn’t like public talks because of a weak and silent voice.
©Yulia Fedorova / Journalist Online
Last two halls on a 3rd floor of the historical building – Expositional and Choral. There youd see exhibits of a big theater museum, foe instance, costumes of a world known ballet and opera stars. When you access to the room usherette would meet you and help you to find your seat and would also offer a souvenir booklet and a bill. The brilliance of chandelier, huge amount of bras and hundreds of golden reliefs can disorient. But once eyes get used to this magnificence, definitely pay attention on a roof. There is a painting «Apollon and muses» by Russian artist Aleksei Titov that was maid in 18th century.
©Yulia Fedorova / Journalist Online
In auditorium 3 loggias attract attention: Imperial, Directors and Romanian. Its impossible to buy tickets for them. In Directors loggia its often possible to see Mahar Vaziev- the director of troupe of the Big theater. Imperial logia rest of the time is empty, its even not allowed to come inside to the majority of staff. And the Romanian logia, that is located to the left of the scene, is doomed to loneliness. Once it was intended for relatives of Russian emperors. Yosif Stalin visited it last time. Due to contemporaries stories, the terrible atmosphere has spread all over the room when secretary general arrived in logia. Since that, Romanian logia has considered to be a cursed place.
On a historical stage pass shows of the most spectacular performances such as «Swan lake», «Giselle» «Triviate» «Boris Godunov» . Sometimes stage hosts touring troupes from all over the world and become a place for holding concerts.
During an intermission buffets on a 1st and 7th floors inflate with spectators . But if you want just to snack or drink, be ready that the bottle of water will сost you 150 rubles.
On a -1st floor since 11 am to 5 pm 7 days a week works a souvenir shop. You can come in from a left façade of a building or find all goods that youre interested in in online shop at official theater web site.
The hall of a historical stage contains more than 2000 spectators. Аt the sight of its scheme with its stall, dress circle, amphitheatre and 4 balcony floors, an embarrassment of riches.
If you ask a usherette what seats are the best, she d smile and show you an imperial logia. Unfortunately, if you aren’t a minister or a high ranking diplomat you wouldn’t have an opportunity to get into. But dont be upset, from a central loggias of dress circle you can see as well as from a first range. However, 2nd and 3rd ranges can turn out to be not the best decision especially if someone tall would sit in front of you.
©Yulia Fedorova / Journalist Online
You will also see everything well from a stall and amphitheatre. The best seats there are located near the central aisle. Frankly, some lovers of opera and ballet complain about the fact that from this places its really difficult to see multi-layer decorations and intricate dance drawings.
If youre looking for cheaper tickets then be ready to face some inconveniences. Choosing places on a 3rd range of a second storey balcony you d definitely stay during performance. The same is about and a second range in the 1storey loggias. The most important, choosing a seats remember: as closer a seat to the center of hall and 1st range than better youd see.
Address: Big Dmitrovka, 4/2
Ticket price: 300- 7000 rubles (in some cases can be higher)
The new stage of a big theater located across the street from the historical one. It’s a yellow building in a classical style smaller than its neighbor in about 2 times, but it still looks impressively. It was built in 2002 on a place of old houses with communal flats.
The interior of the new building is not conspicuous for pomposity. You wouldn’t see walls covered with scarlet silk here and golden bas relief. Interior is made in a discreet colors: beige, green, white, оnly rare golden accents stand out. The floor in the main hall is covered with parquet, and tall panoramic windows covered with a light, transparent tulle. Spiral stairs, many chandeliers and marble steps create an atmosphere of ease and aristocracy.
The main sight of a hall at a new stage is а painting on the ceiling by Zubar Charetelly that was made by the works of Leon Bakst. This bright painting depicting thirteen dancing figures among various stains. If youre attentive enough then youd see an imagination of the historical theatre building on the platform.
On a new stage performance many world knows ballets and operas such as «Carmen Sueta», «Iolante», »Sylfide», «Romeo and Juliet» and modern shows, for instance, «Taming of the Shrew» by Jan-Christaf Maio. Apart from its permanent repertoire, the new stage also hosts guests from different theaters from all over the world and become a concert venue.
As and in the historical building, every guest can easily find a buffet and a souvenir shop here. It works only for spectators.
The hall of a new stage is much smaller and more comfortable than the historical one. The slope is steep enough so the neighbors in the front don’t block your view on a stage. But here I also don’t recommend to take places at the side of balconies. Best seats, as in the historical building, are in the center of parterre, amphitheater and mezzanine. But even from a highest seats youd see everything the stage, although binoculars on the balcony of one tier would be nice.
Address: Theatral square, 1
Ticket price: 500-750 rubles.
The modern Beethoven Hall has started its history since 2011. This small stage was built on a -1st floor during the restoration of the theater building in 2005-2011. Before that, the Great Imperial Foyer was called the Beethoven hall.
©Yulia Fedorova / Journalist Online
The Beethoven hall reminds reduced Antique Theatre. Half-round rows of chairs circling a very small stage and reaching into the back wall that imitates the facade of the Petrovsky Theatre which was before the Big Theater.
Beethoven Hall is used for chamber concerts and rehearsals. It has its own buffet which one is loved by spectators because there are no long lines. The Beethoven hall is a small one so from every place youd see and hear everything well. Tickets price don’t change depending on a seat.
Address: Nikolskaya street, 17
Ticket price: 500- 3000 rubles
Initially, this stage belonged to Moscow Chamber Music Theater that was founded be Boric Pokrovsky in 1972. Troupe of the small theater moved to the building on Nikolskays street in 1997 and in 2018 the theater was merged with the Big Theater.
On the chamber stage you can see the plays of Boris Pokrovsky, Gennadi Rozdestvenski and other less popular directors, for example, «The nose», «One day of Ivan Dennisovich», «Moscow Cheremyshki».
The interior of this building is designed in dark blue, black and white colors. Here you can find a small buffet with cute sofas, big mirrors to improve your hairstyle and a souvenir shop that works 7 days a week from 11 am to 8 pm.
Stage isn’t big here, but youd be surprised, when you see how many artists b decorations can fit on it. Performances on the chamber stage are home like but imposing and unusual.
Perhaps, the most notable disadvantage of the chamber stage is the small space in which it quickly becomes muggy so don’t forger to tale a fan with you.
There are 17 rows in the hall, 12 seats in each and ticket price doesn’t depend on a chosen seat. So you can choose a place guided only by personal references. We recommend you to choose seats closer to stage or central aisle.
Scalpers are the theater lovers worst enemies. If you see tickets to the Big Theatre sailing for 50,100 thousand rubles and higher then be sure that you bumped into them. But its not difficult to avoid them. Its enough just to buy ticket on the theatral box-offices and on the official web site. Its not a secret that tickets to the Big Theater are getting sold really quickly. So its better to buy them in the fist day of sailing. Sales schedule you will find on the official web site in section «Visit theater». Price range of tickets is also specified there.
Joining the tour in the historical building is the wonderful way to see the Big Theater inside, get to know its history, see interiors, pay attention on unusual details and if you are lucky see a rehearsal on the historical stage.
Tours are held on Thursdays, stating at 11 or 11 30. Ticket coast 1500 or 500 rubles for pensioners, students and schoolchildren studying at 8-11 classes. Ticket sailing starts a week before the tour on the official website.
The Big Theater is an amazing place with rich history, that is saturated with ART. That’s why ,despite the challenges, you should definitely visit it. Just once in life.
