The ballet company of the Bolshoi Theatre is described as a big ballet throughout the world. Passion, expressive power, dramatic expressiveness, the ability to produce classical and character dancing, the wide range and emotional quality of its dancing style have always been the distinguishing features of Moscow ballet dancers. The creative activity of many of them may be by right described as an artistic feat, an inspired search for perfection.
The Bolshoi orchestra is the pride of Russia's performing culture. Its performance is marked by faultless technique and the finest sense of ensemble. It involves first-class musicians, many of whom are winners of international competitions and teachers of musical institutions. The Bolshoi choir performance is highly successful and it forms an important element of any opera. The history of modern theatrical decorative is are represented by works of such outstanding designer of the Bolshoi Theatre, as F. Fedorovsky, M. Kurilko, V. Dmitriyev, P. Williams, V. Ryndin, N. Zolotarev, S. Virsaladze and V. Levental.An opportunity to work for the Bolshoi Theatre always serves as a source of joy and as a stern trial for a designer. The giant stage and the stylistic diversity of operas and ballets as works of dramatic art requires bold fantasy, skill and fine artistic taste. Theatre offers unlimited opportunity for the design work. It offers the rare wealth and diversity of stage instruments for the implementation of one's innermost projects and dreams. In the late 19th-early 20th centuries a decorative and scene-painting style was formed in the Bolshoi Theatre which was historically trustworthy, profoundly realistic, with stress laid on its productions' monumentalism. The decorative workshop above the auditorium which was unique for its size and importance was replaced in 1965 by a rehearsal hall, built according to architect V.V. Turchinovich's design with the stage of the same size as the main Bolshoi stage and the orchestra pit accommodating the entire orchestra. The rehearsal hall acoustics was made as close as possible to that of the auditorium. The theatre's exterior was systematically repaired and restored. The white stone portico columns, which once adorned the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theatre, are being constantly restored in our days. In 1975 the grand chandelier was restored. Restoration works were also carried out in the Beethoven Hall (the former imperial foyer): the stucco decor was cleaned and the unique silk panels regained their original luster. By May 1976 the Beethoven Hall had been completely renovated.

Inna PETROVA Galina STEPANENKO Vladimir VASILIEV

Schedule of performances and booking of tickets you can find in the site of Bolshoi Theatre