"IN late XIX centuries, when on the ground Bolshoi Theater chairs were installed, the capacity of the auditorium began to be 1,740 seats. This is exactly the number that was indicated in the Yearbook of the Imperial Theatres, published in 1895,” noted Mikhail Sidorov, the official representative of the general contractor, Director of the Public Relations Department of the Summa Capital Investment Group.
During Soviet times, the Bolshoi Theater was not only the main theater of the country, but also the venue for the most important political events. All-Russian Congresses of Soviets, meetings of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, congresses of the Comintern and meetings of the Moscow Council of Working People's Deputies were held here. It was in the building of the Bolshoi Theater in 1922 on the First All-Union Congress The formation of the USSR was proclaimed by the Soviets. The breadth of party ranks required an increase in the number of rows in the Bolshoi hall. The previous chairs were replaced by others, more compact and narrow. Thanks to this, the capacity of the hall became 2185 seats.
During the development of the project for the reconstruction and restoration of the Bolshoi Theater, it was decided to return to the historical number of seats. Experts studied the placement of seats in the boxes using archival data, including drawings by the artist Luigi Primazzi, who reproduced the interiors of the Bolshoi Theater with the precision of a photographer in his famous album “Grand Theater de Moscou...”. “Chairs and armchairs will become more comfortable, the width of the side aisles will also increase, which, of course, will be appreciated by visitors to the stalls,” emphasized M. Sidorov.
Furniture for the Bolshoi Theater is created from modern materials, exactly repeating the appearance of historical interior items. For example, the design of the fabric of chairs and armchairs was completely recreated. The model for the development of modern fabric were fragments of historical furniture upholstery of the late 19th century from the archives of the Bolshoi Theater and pieces of fabric discovered by restorers while examining the interiors.
“Horse hair and coconut shavings were used to stuff chairs and armchairs in the 19th century. This gave the surface rigidity, but sitting on such furniture was not very comfortable. Now, when recreating chairs and armchairs, modern fillers were used. And in order to comply with fire safety requirements, all the fabrics of the Bolshoi Theater were coated with a special impregnation, making the material non-flammable,” said M. Sidorov.
One of the main tasks of the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater was the restoration of its legendary acoustics. The work of the craftsmen restoring the interiors of the auditorium and the acousticians was closely intertwined. All restoration work was carefully planned together with the German company Müller BBM, a leader in the field of architectural acoustics for theaters and concert halls. Experts from this company regularly carried out acoustic measurements and provided technical recommendations, with the help of which the progress of restoration work was adjusted.
Even the furniture, according to experts, should help improve the acoustics of the auditorium. Therefore, the composition and impregnation of fabrics for chairs and armchairs, as well as the patterns of curtains and harlequin boxes, were additionally coordinated with acoustics.
The capacity of the auditorium can be increased. During concerts, the theater will have the opportunity to raise the platform of the orchestra pit to the level of the auditorium and install additional seats for spectators on it.
“It would not be superfluous to remind you that after the reconstruction the Bolshoi Theater will become more convenient for spectators with disabilities health. Thus, for persons with musculoskeletal disorders, twenty-six seats are provided in the first row of the amphitheater. In the last row of the stalls there are ten removable seats, which makes it possible to organize six seats for wheelchair users. To accommodate persons with visual impairments, twenty seats are provided in the first two rows of the stalls. It is planned to print programs and brochures using a special Braille font. To accommodate citizens with hearing impairments, it is planned to allocate twenty-eight seats in the second row of the amphitheater. It is planned to place an information ticker in the backs of the front row seats,” M. Sidorov emphasized.
At the mere mention of the Bolshoi, theatergoers all over the world take their breath away and their hearts begin to beat faster. Ticket to his performance - best gift, and each premiere is accompanied by a flurry of enthusiastic responses from both fans and critics. State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia has a significant weight not only in our country, but also abroad, because people have always performed on its stage best singers and dancers of their era.
How the Bolshoi Theater began
In the early spring of 1776, the Empress Catherine II by her highest decree she ordered the organization of “theatrical ... performances” in Moscow. Hastened to fulfill the will of the empress Prince Urusov, who served as the provincial prosecutor. He began the construction of the theater building on Petrovka. The temple of art did not have time to open, as it died in a fire during the construction stage.
Then the entrepreneur got down to business Michael Maddox, under whose leadership a brick building was erected, decorated with white stone decoration and having a height of three floors. The theater, called Petrovsky, was opened at the very end of 1780. Its hall accommodated about a thousand spectators, and the same number of Terpsichore fans could watch the performances from the gallery. Maddox owned the building until 1794. During this time, more than 400 performances were staged on the stage of the Petrovsky Theater.
In 1805, a new fire destroyed the stone building, and for a long time the troupe wandered around the stages of home theaters of the Moscow aristocracy. Finally, three years later, the famous architect K. I. Rossi finished the construction of a new building on Arbat Square, but the fire did not spare it either. New temple musical art died in big fire, which happened in Moscow during the occupation of the capital by the Napoleonic army.
Four years later, the Moscow development commission announced a competition for best project new building musical theater. The competition was won by the professor's project Imperial Academy arts A. Mikhailova. Later, the architect who implemented the idea made significant modifications to the drawings O. I. Bove.
Historical building on Teatralnaya Square
During the construction of the new building, the foundation of the burnt Petrovsky Theater was partially used. Beauvais's idea was that the theater should symbolize the victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812. As a result, the building was a stylized temple in the Empire style, and the grandeur of the building was emphasized by the wide area laid out in front of the main facade.
The grand opening took place on January 6, 1825, and the spectators who attended the performance of “The Triumph of the Muses” noted the splendor of the building, the beauty of the scenery, amazing costumes and, of course, the unsurpassed skill of the performers of the main roles in the first performance on the new stage.
Unfortunately, fate did not spare this building either, and after the fire of 1853, only a portico with a colonnade and external stone walls remained. Restoration work under the direction of the chief architect of the Imperial Theaters Albert Kavos lasted three years. As a result, the proportions of the building were slightly changed: the theater became much wider and more spacious. The facades were given eclectic features, and the sculpture of Apollo, which died in the fire, was replaced by a bronze quadriga. The premiere of Bellini's "The Puritans" in the renovated building took place in 1856.
Bolshoi Theater and new times
The revolution brought many changes to all areas of life, and theater was no exception. At first the Bolshoi was given the title of academic, and then they wanted to close it altogether, but the All-Russian Central Executive Committee issued a resolution to preserve the theater. In the 1920s, the building underwent some renovation work, which not only strengthened the walls, but also destroyed any opportunity for spectators to demonstrate their rank hierarchy.
The Great Patriotic War became a difficult time for the troupe. The theater was evacuated to Kuibyshev, and the performances were staged on the local stage. The artists made a significant contribution to the defense fund, for which the troupe received gratitude from the head of state.
IN post-war years The Bolshoi Theater has been reconstructed several times. Latest works were performed on the historical stage from 2005 to 2011.
Repertoire past and present
In the first years of the theater's existence, its troupe did not attach too much importance to of great importance content of productions. Aristocrats became ordinary spectators of the performances, spending their time in idleness and entertainment. Every evening up to three or four performances could be played on stage, and in order not to get bored with the small audience, the repertoire was changed very often. Benefit performances were also popular, hosted by both famous and leading actors and the supporting cast. The performances were based on the works of European playwrights and composers, but dance sketches on themes of Russian folk life and life were also present in the repertoire.
In the 19th century, significant performances began to be staged on the Bolshoi stage. musical works who become historical events V cultural life Moscow. In 1842 they played for the first time "A Life for the Tsar" by Glinka, and in 1843 the audience applauded the soloists and ballet participants A. Adana "Giselle". Second half XIX century marked by works Marius Petipa, thanks to which the Bolshoi is known as the first stage for "Don Quixote of La Mancha" by Minkus and " Swan Lake» Tchaikovsky.
The heyday of the main Moscow theater occurred at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. During this period they shine on the stage of the Bolshoi Chaliapin And Sobinov, whose names become known throughout the world. The repertoire is enriching Opera "Khovanshchina" by Mussorgsky, stands at the conductor's stand Sergei Rachmaninov, and great Russian artists - Benois, Korovin and Polenov - take part in the work on the scenery for performances.
Soviet era brought many changes to the theater stage. Many performances are subject to ideological criticism, and Bolshoi choreographers strive to find new forms in dance art. The opera is represented by works by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, but also the names Soviet composers Programs appear more and more frequently on posters and covers.
After the end of the war, the most significant premiers of the Bolshoi Theater were "Cinderella" and "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev. Starring in ballet performances the incomparable Galina Ulanova shines. In the 60s, viewers were captivated by Maya Plisetskaya, dancing "Carmen Suite", and Vladimir Vasiliev in the role of Spartacus in the ballet by A. Khachaturian.
IN recent years The troupe is increasingly resorting to experiments, which are not always clearly assessed by the audience and critics. Drama and film directors participate in the work on performances, scores are returned to the author's editions, the concept and style of scenery are increasingly becoming the subject of fierce debate, and productions are broadcast in cinemas in different countries world and on Internet channels.
During the existence of the Bolshoi Theater, many were associated with it interesting events. Outstanding people of their time worked at the theater, and the main building of the Bolshoi became one of the symbols of the Russian capital:
- At the time of the opening of the Petrovsky Theater, its troupe consisted of about 30 artists and just over a dozen accompanists. Today, about a thousand artists and musicians serve in the Bolshoi Theater.
IN different times performed on the Bolshoi stage Elena Obraztsova and Irina Arkhipova, Maris Liepa and Maya Plisetskaya, Galina Ulanova and Ivan Kozlovsky. During the existence of the theater, more than eighty of its artists were awarded the title of People's Artist, and eight of them were awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor. Ballerina and choreographer Galina Ulanova was awarded this honorary title twice.
An ancient chariot with four harnessed horses, called a quadriga, was often depicted on various buildings and structures. Such chariots were used in Ancient Rome during triumphal processions. The quadriga of the Bolshoi Theater was made by a famous sculptor Peter Klodt. His equally famous works are sculptures of horses on the Anichkov Bridge in St. Petersburg.
In the 30-50s. last century, the main artist of the Bolshoi was Fedor Fedorovsky- a student of Vrubel and Serov, who worked with Diaghilev in Paris at the beginning of the century. It was he who in 1955 created the famous brocade curtain of the Bolshoi Theater, called “golden”.
- In 1956, the ballet troupe traveled to London for the first time.. Thus began a series of famous Bolshoi tours in Europe and the world.
Had great success on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater Marlene Dietrich. A famous German actress performed in the building on Theater Square in 1964. She brought her famous show “Marlene Expirience” to Moscow and was called to bow two hundred times during her performances.
Soviet opera singer Mark Reisen set a Guinness record on the Bolshoi stage. In 1985, at the age of 90, he performed the part of Gremin in the play Eugene Onegin.
During Soviet times, the theater was twice awarded the Order of Lenin.
The building of the historical stage of the Bolshoi Theater is on the list of objects cultural heritage peoples of Russia.
The latest reconstruction of the main building of the Bolshoi cost 35.4 billion rubles. The work lasted six years and three months, and on October 28, 2011, the theater was inaugurated after renovation.
New scene
In 2002, the Bolshaya Bolshaya Theater's New Stage was opened on Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street. The premiere was a production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera “The Snow Maiden”. The new stage served as the main stage during the reconstruction of the main building, and from 2005 to 2011 the entire Bolshoi repertoire was staged on it.
After grand opening After the renovation of the main building, the New Stage began to host touring troupes from theaters in Russia and around the world. Operas from the permanent repertoire are still staged at Bolshaya Dmitrovka " Queen of Spades" by Tchaikovsky, "The Love for Three Oranges" by Prokofiev and "The Snow Maiden" by N. Rimsky-Korsakov. Ballet fans can see “The Bright Stream” by D. Shostakovich and “Carmen Suite” by J. Bizet and R. Shchedrin on the New Stage.
The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, located in the center of the capital, on Teatralnaya Square, is one of the symbols of Russia and the brilliant skill of its artists. Its talented performers: vocalists and ballet dancers, composers and conductors, choreographers are known all over the world. More than 800 works were staged on its stage. These are the first Russian operas and operas of such celebrities as Verdi and Wagner, Bellini and Donizetti, Berlioz and Ravel and other composers. World premieres of operas by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and Arensky took place here. The great Rachmaninov conducted here.
Bolshoi Theater in Moscow - history
In March 1736, the provincial prosecutor, Prince Pyotr Vasilyevich Urusov, began construction of a theater building on the right bank of the Neglinka River, on the corner of Petrovka. Then he began to be called Petrovsky. But Peter Urusov failed to complete the construction. The building burned down. After the fire, his partner, the English entrepreneur Michael Medox, completed the construction of the theater building. This was the first professional theater. His repertoire included drama, opera and ballet performances. Both singers and dramatic actors took part in opera performances. The Petrovsky Theater was opened on December 30, 1780. On this day, the pantomime ballet “The Magic Shop” was staged by Y. Paradise. Ballets with a national flavor, such as Village Simplicity, Gypsy Ballet and The Taking of Ochakov, were especially popular among the audience. Basically, the ballet troupe was formed by students ballet school Moscow Orphanage and serf actors of E. Golovkina’s troupe. This building lasted 25 years. It was destroyed in a fire in 1805. The new building, built under the leadership of K. Rossi on Arbat Square, also burned down in 1812.
According to the project of A. Mikhailov in 1821-1825. A new theater building is being built on the same site. The construction was supervised by the architect O. Bove. It was significantly increased in size. Therefore, at that time it received the name Bolshoi Theater. On January 6, 1825, the performance “The Triumph of the Muses” was given here. After the fire in March 1853, the building took three years to restore. The work was supervised by the architect A. Kavos. As contemporaries wrote, the appearance of the building “captivated the eye with the proportionality of the parts, in which lightness was combined with grandeur.” This is how it has survived to this day. In 1937 and 1976 the theater was awarded the Order of Lenin. During the Great Patriotic War he was evacuated to the city of Kuibyshev. On November 29, 2002, the New Stage opened with the premiere of Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Snow Maiden.
Bolshoi Theater - architecture
The building that we can now admire is one of the best examples of Russian classical architecture. It was built in 1856 under the direction of architect Albert Kavos. During restoration after the fire, the building was completely rebuilt and decorated with a white stone portico with eight columns. The architect replaced the hipped roof with a gable roof with pediments, repeating the shape of the portico pediment along the main façade and removing the arched niche. The Ionic order of the portico was replaced by a complex one. All exterior details have been changed. Some architects believe that Kavos' changes diminished the artistic merit of the original building. The building is crowned by the world-famous bronze quadriga of Apollo by Pyotr Klodt. We see a two-wheeled chariot with four harnessed horses galloping across the sky and the god Apollo driving them. A plaster double-headed eagle was installed on the pediment of the building - state emblem Russia. On the ceiling of the auditorium there are nine muses with Apollo at their head. Thanks to the creativity of Albert Kavos, the building fits perfectly into the surrounding architectural structures.
The five tiers of the auditorium can accommodate more than 2,100 spectators. In terms of its acoustic properties, it is considered one of the best in the world. The length of the hall from the orchestra to the back wall is 25 meters, width - 26.3 meters, height - 21 meters. The stage portal is 20.5 by 17.8 meters, the depth of the stage is 23.5 meters. This is one of the beautiful architectural structures capitals. It was called "the palace of sun rays, gold, purple and snow." The building also hosts important state and public celebrations.
Reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater
In 2005, the reconstruction of the theater began and after 6 years of colossal work, the opening took place on October 28, 2011 main stage countries. The area of the Bolshoi Theater doubled and amounted to 80 thousand square meters, an underground part appeared and the unique acoustics of the hall were restored. The stage now has the volume of a six-story building, all processes in which are computerized. The paintings in the White Foyer have been restored. The jacquard fabrics and tapestries in the Round Hall and the Imperial Foyer were restored by hand over the course of 5 years, restoring every centimeter. 156 craftsmen from all over Russia were engaged in gilding of interiors with a thickness of 5 microns, covering an area of 981 square meter, which took 4.5 kg of gold.
There were 17 elevators with buttons for floors from the 10th to the 4th, and an additional 2 floors located below were occupied by mechanics. The auditorium seats 1,768 people, before reconstruction - 2,100. The theater buffet moved to the 4th floor and this is the only room where windows are located on both sides. Interestingly, the tiles in the central foyer were made in the same factory as in the 19th century. The chandelier with a diameter of more than 6 meters with gilded pendants is especially beautiful. The new curtain is embroidered double headed eagle and the word Russia.
The modern Bolshoi Theater includes opera and ballet troupes, a stage and brass band and the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra. The names of the opera and ballet school are the property of all of Russia and all theater world. More than 80 artists were awarded the title of People's Artists of the USSR during the Soviet period. The title of Hero of Socialist Labor was received by eight stage masters - I. Arkhipova and Y. Grigorovich, I. Kozlovsky and E. Nesterenko, E. Svetlanov, as well as world-famous ballerinas - G. Ulanova, M. Plisetskaya and M. Semyonova. Many artists are folk artists Russian Federation.
The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow represents one of the world's main theater stages. He played an outstanding role in the formation of the Russian musical and stage school and in the development of Russian national art, including the famous Russian ballet.
The Bolshoi Theater of Russia has always been and remains one of the main symbols of our state and its culture. This is the main one national theater Russia, bearer of Russian traditions and center of the world musical culture promoting development theatrical arts countries.
Masterpieces of Russian musical theater of the 19th-20th centuries occupy a dominant place in the repertoire, the principles of its formation can be divided into three categories. The Bolshoi offers its viewers Russian classics, including the 20th century, Western classics, also including recognized masterpieces of the 20th century, and specially commissioned works. The latest recent history The Bolshoi Theater already knows a lot: this is the opera “Children of Rosenthal” by Leonid Desyatnikov, the ballets “Misericordes” staged by Christopher Wheeldon, “Lost Illusions” by Leonid Desyatnikov staged by Alexei Ratmansky, the dance play “And then a millennium of peace” by Laurent Garnier staged by Angelin Preljocaj and with the participation of his troupe.
The theater tries to ensure the continuity of generations by educating young talented youth (thus, a special Youth opera program, designed to train and improve the skills of future stars of the opera stage).
The Bolshoi troupe is constantly in good creative shape, since it must solve various creative problems and offer its “solutions” to the attention of the audience both on its famous stage and on the stages of the leading musical theaters of the world. To acquaint the domestic public with the achievements of these theaters and invite individual artists to take part in their own creative process– another important area of the theater’s activities.
The theater not only satisfies society's need for classical art, but also shapes the audience's taste and allows the public to get acquainted with the best achievements of world musical theater. Familiarizing the public with this context is one of the main tasks of the Bolshoi Theater, through which the state carries out its social mission in the field of culture.
The theater carries out educational activities, performing works that are rare for the repertoire of domestic theaters, inviting outstanding soloists and directors. Directors Francesca Zambello, Eimuntas Nyakrosius, Declan Donnellan, Robert Sturua, Peter Konvicny, Temur Chkheidze, Robert Wilson, Graham Vick, Alexander Sokurov, choreographers Roland Petit, John Neumeier, Christopher Wheeldon, Angelin Preljocaj, Wayne McGregor have already worked at the theater.
An integral part of the theater’s activities is holding chamber and symphony concerts, operas in concert performance, which makes it possible to introduce the public to works of all musical genres.
Now that the Bolshoi Theater has two stages and one of them is its legendary historical stage, which has finally returned to operation, it hopes to fulfill this mission with all the greater success, steadily expanding its sphere of influence at home and around the world.
General Director of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia - Vladimir Urin
Musical director – chief conductor- Tugan Sokhiev
Opera creative team manager - Makvala Kasrashvili
Artistic director ballet troupe- Sergey Filin
185 years ago the Bolshoi Theater was inaugurated.
The founding date of the Bolshoi Theater is considered to be March 28 (March 17), 1776, when famous philanthropist Moscow prosecutor Prince Pyotr Urusov received the highest permission to “contain ... theatrical performances of all kinds.” Urusov and his companion Mikhail Medox created the first permanent troupe in Moscow. It was organized from actors of a previously existing Moscow theater troupe, students of Moscow University and from newly recruited serf actors.
The theater initially did not have an independent building, so performances were staged in Vorontsov’s private house on Znamenka Street. But in 1780, the theater moved to a stone theater building specially built according to the design of Christian Rozbergan on the site of the modern Bolshoi Theater. To build the theater building, Medox bought land plot at the beginning of Petrovskaya Street, formerly in the possession of Prince Lobanov-Rostotsky. The three-story stone building with a plank roof, the so-called Medox Theater, was erected in just five months.
Based on the name of the street on which the theater was located, it became known as “Petrovsky”.
The repertoire of this first professional theater in Moscow included drama, opera and ballet performances. But operas received special attention, so the Petrovsky Theater was more often called the “Opera House”. The theater troupe was not divided into opera and drama: the same artists performed in both drama and opera performances.
In 1805, the building burned down, and until 1825, performances were staged at various theater venues.
In the early 20s of the 19th century, Petrovskaya Square (now Teatralnaya) was completely rebuilt in the classicist style according to the plans of the architect Osip Bove. According to this project, its current composition arose, the dominant feature of which was the building of the Bolshoi Theater. The building was built according to the design of Osip Bove in 1824 on the site of the former Petrovsky. New theater partially included the walls of the burnt Petrovsky Theater.
The construction of the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater was a real event for Moscow early XIX century. A beautiful eight-column building in classic style with the chariot of the god Apollo above the portico, inside decorated in red and gold tones, according to contemporaries, it was the best theater in Europe and in scale second only to Milan's La Scala. Its opening took place on January 6 (18), 1825. In honor of this event, a prologue “The Triumph of the Muses” was given by Mikhail Dmitriev with music by Alexander Alyabyev and Alexei Verstovsky. It allegorically depicted how the Genius of Russia, with the help of the muses, on the ruins of the Medox Theater creates a new beautiful temple of art - the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater.
The townspeople called the new building "Colosseum". The performances held here were invariably a success, gathering high-society Moscow society.
On March 11, 1853, for an unknown reason, a fire started in the theater. Died in fire theatrical costumes, scenery for performances, the archives of the troupe, part of the music library, rare musical instruments, the theater building was also damaged.
A competition was announced for the restoration of the theater building, in which the winning plan was submitted by Albert Kavos. After the fire, the walls and columns of the porticos were preserved. When developing a new project, architect Alberto Cavos took the three-dimensional structure of the Beauvais Theater as a basis. Kavos approached the issue of acoustics carefully. He considered the optimal structure of the auditorium to be based on the principle musical instrument: the deck of the ceiling, the deck of the parterre floor, wall panels, and balcony structures were made of wood. The acoustics of Kavos were perfect. He had to endure many battles with his contemporaries, architects, and with firefighters, proving that the installation of a metal ceiling (as, for example, in Alexandrinsky Theater architect Rossi) can be detrimental to the acoustics of the theater.
While maintaining the layout and volume of the building, Kavos increased the height, changed the proportions and reworked the architectural decoration; Slender cast-iron galleries with lamps were built on the sides of the building. During the reconstruction of the auditorium, Kavos changed the shape of the hall, narrowing it towards the stage, changed the size of the auditorium, which began to accommodate up to 3 thousand spectators. The alabaster group of Apollo, which decorated the Osip Bove Theater, died in a fire. To create a new one, Alberto Cavos invited the famous Russian sculptor Pyotr Klodt, the author of the famous four equestrian groups on the Anichkov Bridge over the Fontanka River in St. Petersburg. Klodt created the now world-famous sculptural group with Apollo.
The new Bolshoi Theater was built in 16 months and opened on August 20, 1856 for the coronation of Alexander II.
The Kavos Theater did not have enough space to store scenery and props, and in 1859 the architect Nikitin made a project for a two-story extension to the northern facade, according to which all the capitals of the northern portico were covered. The project was implemented in the 1870s. And in the 1890s, another floor was added to the extension, thereby increasing the usable area. In this form, the Bolshoi Theater has survived to this day, with the exception of minor internal and external reconstructions.
After the Neglinka River was drawn into the pipe, the groundwater receded, the wooden foundation piles were exposed to atmospheric air and began to rot. In 1920, the entire semi-circular wall of the auditorium collapsed during the performance, the doors jammed, and the audience had to be evacuated through the barriers of the boxes. This forced the architect and engineer Ivan Rerberg in the late 1920s to place a concrete slab on a central support, shaped like a mushroom, under the auditorium. However, the concrete spoiled the acoustics.
By the 1990s, the building was extremely dilapidated, its deterioration was estimated at 60%. The theater fell into disrepair both structurally and decoratively. During the life of the theater, they endlessly added something to it, improved it, tried to make it more modern. Elements of all three theaters coexisted in the theater building. Their foundations were at different levels, and accordingly, cracks began to appear on the foundations, on the walls, and then on the interior decoration. The brickwork of the facades and the walls of the auditorium were in disrepair. The same goes for the main portico. The columns deviated from the vertical by up to 30 cm. The tilt was recorded at the end of the 19th century, and since then it has been increasing. These block columns white stone they tried to “treat” the entire twentieth century - humidity caused visible black spots at the bottom of the columns at a height of up to 6 meters.
Hopelessly behind modern level equipment: for example, until the end of the 20th century, a winch for decorations from the Siemens company, manufactured in 1902, operated here (now it has been handed over to the Polytechnic Museum).
In 1993, the Russian government adopted a decree on the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater complex.
In 2002, with the participation of the Moscow government, the New Stage of the Bolshoi Theater was opened on Teatralnaya Square. This hall is more than two times smaller than the historical one and can only accommodate a third of the theater’s repertoire. The launch of the New Stage made it possible to begin the reconstruction of the main building.
According to the plan, the appearance of the theater building will remain almost unchanged. Only the northern façade will lose its extensions, already within many years closed storage facilities, where the decorations are stored. The Bolshoi Theater building will go 26 meters deep into the ground; in the old and new building there will even be room for huge set structures - they will be lowered to the third underground level. The Chamber Hall with 300 seats will also be hidden underground. After reconstruction, the New and Main stages, which are located 150 meters from each other, will be connected to each other and to the administrative and rehearsal buildings by underground passages. In total, the theater will have 6 underground tiers. The storage will be moved underground, which will allow the rear facade to be restored to its proper form.
Underway unique works to strengthen the underground part of the theater buildings, with a guarantee from the builders for the next 100 years, with parallel placement and modern technical equipment of parking lots under the main building of the complex, which will make it possible to relieve traffic from the most complex interchange of the city - Theater Square.
Everything that was lost in the building will be recreated in the historical interior of the building. Soviet times. One of the main tasks of the reconstruction is to restore the original, largely lost, legendary acoustics of the Bolshoi Theater and make the stage floor covering as comfortable as possible. For the first time in Russian theater the gender will change depending on the genre of the performance being shown. Opera will have its own gender, ballet will have its own. In terms of technological equipment, the theater will become one of the best in Europe and the world.
The Bolshoi Theater building is a historical and architectural monument, so a significant part of the work is scientific restoration. The author of the restoration project, Honored Architect of Russia, Director of the Scientific and Restoration Center "Restavrator-M" Elena Stepanova.
According to Russian Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev, the reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater will be completed by the end of 2010 - beginning of 2011.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources.