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The Bolshoi: past and present

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March 28 (March 17), 1776, when the Moscow Prosecutor and well-known patron of the arts Prince Peter Urusov was granted the royal leave for “holding all kind of theatrical performances,” is generally perceived as the Bolshoi Theatre’s founding date.

March 28 (March 17), 1776, when the Moscow Prosecutor and well-known patron of the arts Prince Peter Urusov was granted the royal leave for “holding all kind of theatrical performances,” is generally perceived as the Bolshoi Theatre’s founding date.

© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankMarch 28 (March 17), 1776, when the Moscow Prosecutor and well-known patron of the arts Prince Peter Urusov was granted the royal leave for “holding all kind of theatrical performances,” is generally perceived as the Bolshoi Theatre’s founding date. Photo: A mid-19th-century lithograph portraying Theatre Square as observed from the Bolshoi Theatre.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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March 28 (March 17), 1776, when the Moscow Prosecutor and well-known patron of the arts Prince Peter Urusov was granted the royal leave for “holding all kind of theatrical performances,” is generally perceived as the Bolshoi Theatre’s founding date. Photo: A mid-19th-century lithograph portraying Theatre Square as observed from the Bolshoi Theatre.
© RIA Novosti . Ignatovich / Go to the mediabankРA prominent mechanical engineer, Michael Maddox, helped to find a site in Petrovka Street and a public theatre was built within five months to Christian Rosenberg’s architectural plan at the cost of 130,000 rubles. The performances began in 1780 but the Petrovka Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1805. Photo: A 1780 engraving depicting the Petrovka Theatre in Moscow.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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РA prominent mechanical engineer, Michael Maddox, helped to find a site in Petrovka Street and a public theatre was built within five months to Christian Rosenberg’s architectural plan at the cost of 130,000 rubles. The performances began in 1780 but the Petrovka Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1805. Photo: A 1780 engraving depicting the Petrovka Theatre in Moscow.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankSomewhat later it was replaced by a new building designed by Joseph Bové. Integrated in the general composition of the Petrovka (now Theatre) Square, the building was ceremoniously opened on January 18, 1825.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
3/15
Somewhat later it was replaced by a new building designed by Joseph Bové. Integrated in the general composition of the Petrovka (now Theatre) Square, the building was ceremoniously opened on January 18, 1825.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Fedorenko / Go to the mediabankIn 1853, a new fire destroyed the theatre along with the costumes, stage sets, the company’s archive, part of the scores library, and unique musical instruments. Photo: “The Fire at the Bolshoi Theatre on March 11, 1853” as painted by an unknown artist.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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In 1853, a new fire destroyed the theatre along with the costumes, stage sets, the company’s archive, part of the scores library, and unique musical instruments. Photo: “The Fire at the Bolshoi Theatre on March 11, 1853” as painted by an unknown artist.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Viatkin / Go to the mediabankThe new building was built to a plan contributed by Alberto Cavos who kept Bové’s spatial composition and planning, while increasing the height, modifying the proportions and reworking the architectural décor. Slender pig-iron wings with lampposts were added as well. Photo: A lithograph of Vassily Sadovnikov’s drawing “A View of the Bolshoi Theatre” (1860).
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
5/15
The new building was built to a plan contributed by Alberto Cavos who kept Bové’s spatial composition and planning, while increasing the height, modifying the proportions and reworking the architectural décor. Slender pig-iron wings with lampposts were added as well. Photo: A lithograph of Vassily Sadovnikov’s drawing “A View of the Bolshoi Theatre” (1860).
© RIA Novosti . A. Sverdlov / Go to the mediabankThe new Bolshoi Theatre was built during 16 months to be opened on August 20, 1856 for the coronation of Emperor Alexander II. Photo: A. Sadovnikov’s “The Theatre Square on the Bolshoi Theatre Opening Day, August 20, 1856.” Courtesy of the Museum of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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The new Bolshoi Theatre was built during 16 months to be opened on August 20, 1856 for the coronation of Emperor Alexander II. Photo: A. Sadovnikov’s “The Theatre Square on the Bolshoi Theatre Opening Day, August 20, 1856.” Courtesy of the Museum of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankThe Cavos theatre was short of premises for storing stage sets and props. In 1859, architect Nikitin designed a two-storey addition to the north façade that covered the north portico’s capitals. The project came to fruition in the 1870s. One more storey was added in the 1890s, and this was the final touch that gave the Bolshoi its classical look, to which we are accustomed today. Photo: Stalls in the Theatre Square in Moscow. 1880.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
7/15
The Cavos theatre was short of premises for storing stage sets and props. In 1859, architect Nikitin designed a two-storey addition to the north façade that covered the north portico’s capitals. The project came to fruition in the 1870s. One more storey was added in the 1890s, and this was the final touch that gave the Bolshoi its classical look, to which we are accustomed today. Photo: Stalls in the Theatre Square in Moscow. 1880.
© RIA Novosti . Boris Kavashkin / Go to the mediabankPerched upon the fronton, Apollo’s bronze four-horse chariot by the outstanding Russian sculptor Peter Clodt is the main symbol of the Bolshoi Theatre.

The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
8/15
Perched upon the fronton, Apollo’s bronze four-horse chariot by the outstanding Russian sculptor Peter Clodt is the main symbol of the Bolshoi Theatre.

© RIA Novosti . Stolyarov / Go to the mediabankToday the Bolshoi Theatre is one of the symbols of Moscow along with St. Basil’s Cathedral. It hosted some of the more important events in Russia’s musical history and served as a background for even more important political events. Photo: Theatre Square in 1898.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
9/15
Today the Bolshoi Theatre is one of the symbols of Moscow along with St. Basil’s Cathedral. It hosted some of the more important events in Russia’s musical history and served as a background for even more important political events. Photo: Theatre Square in 1898.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankThe coronation of Emperor Alexander II was celebrated in the Bolshoi Theater. After the 1917 revolution, the Bolsheviks used it for their congresses. The establishment of the Soviet Union and Vladimir Lenin’s death were also announced from the Bolshoi’s stage. Photo: Delegates to the 5th All Russia Congress of the Soviets lining at the entrance to the Bolshoi Theatre. 1918.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
10/15
The coronation of Emperor Alexander II was celebrated in the Bolshoi Theater. After the 1917 revolution, the Bolsheviks used it for their congresses. The establishment of the Soviet Union and Vladimir Lenin’s death were also announced from the Bolshoi’s stage. Photo: Delegates to the 5th All Russia Congress of the Soviets lining at the entrance to the Bolshoi Theatre. 1918.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Krasavin / Go to the mediabankDuring the war the Bolshoi company gave thousands of concerts at the war-fronts, while the building itself was covered with camouflage netting as a precaution against enemy bombing attacks.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
11/15
During the war the Bolshoi company gave thousands of concerts at the war-fronts, while the building itself was covered with camouflage netting as a precaution against enemy bombing attacks.
© RIA Novosti . Runov / Go to the mediabankThe Bolshoi Theatre witnessed some most important events in the national history. Photio: Jubilant crowds celebrating Victory. May 9, 1945.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
12/15
The Bolshoi Theatre witnessed some most important events in the national history. Photio: Jubilant crowds celebrating Victory. May 9, 1945.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankParticipants in the ceremonial farewell-bidding to Joseph Stalin. March 9, 1945.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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Participants in the ceremonial farewell-bidding to Joseph Stalin. March 9, 1945.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Polyakov / Go to the mediabankRallying in Theatre Square to commemorate the third anniversary of the national referendum on the USSR’s preservation.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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Rallying in Theatre Square to commemorate the third anniversary of the national referendum on the USSR’s preservation.
© RIA Novosti . Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankThe Bolshoi Theatre will be opened on October 28 after six years’ overhaul that made it assume its original look.
The Bolshoi: past and present - Sputnik International
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The Bolshoi Theatre will be opened on October 28 after six years’ overhaul that made it assume its original look.
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