Bolshoi Theater in different architectural styles. Infographics

BIG THEATER

The oldest opera and ballet theater in Russia. The official name is the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia. IN colloquial speech the theater is simply called Big.

The Bolshoi Theater is an architectural monument. Modern building The theater was built in the Empire style. The facade is decorated with 8 columns, on the portico there is a statue of the ancient Greek god of arts Apollo, driving a quadriga - a two-wheeled chariot harnessed in a row by four horses (the work of P.K. Klodt). The interiors of the theater are richly decorated with bronze, gilding, red velvet, and mirrors. The auditorium is decorated with crystal chandeliers, a gold embroidered curtain, and a ceiling painting depicting 9 patron muses. different types art.
The theater was born in 1776, when Moscow The first professional theater troupe was organized. The theater hosted opera, ballet and drama performances. The troupe did not have its own premises; until 1780, performances were staged in the house of Count Vorontsov on Znamenka. Therefore, the theater was originally called Znamensky, as well as the “Medox Theater” (after the name of the theater director M. Medox). At the end of 1780, the first theater building was built on Petrovskaya Street (architect H. Rosberg), and it began to be called Petrovsky. In 1805, the theater building burned down, and for 20 years performances were staged at various venues in Moscow: Pashkov House, in the New Arbat Theater, etc. In 1824, the architect O.I. Beauvais built a new large building for the Petrovsky Theater, second in size after Milan's La Scala, so the theater began to be called the Bolshoi Petrovsky. The opening of the theater took place in January 1825. At the same time, the drama troupe separated from the opera and ballet troupes and moved to a new one, built next to the Bolshoi.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century. The Bolshoi Theater staged mainly works French authors, but soon the first operas and ballets of Russian composers A.N. appeared. Verstovsky,, A.A. Alyabyeva A.E. Varlamova . Head ballet troupe
was a student of S. Didelot - A.P. Glushkovsky. In the middle of the century, the famous European romantic ballets “La Sylphide” by J. Schneizhofer, “Giselle” by A. Adam, and “Esmeralda” by C. Pugni appeared on the theater stage. The main event of the first half of the nineteenth century. premiered two operas M.I. Glinka
In 1853, the theater, built by O.I. Beauvais, destroyed by fire. The scenery, costumes, rare instruments, and music library were destroyed. In the competition for best project the architect won the restoration of the theater Albert Kavos. According to his design, a building was built that still stands today. In August 1856, the new Bolshoi Theater opened. Opera celebrities from Europe performed there. All of Moscow came to listen to Desiree Artaud, Pauline Viardot, and Adeline Patti.
In the second half of the century, the Russian opera repertoire expanded: “Rusalka” was staged A.S. Dargomyzhsky(1858), operas by A.N. Serova - “Judith” (1865) and “Rogneda” (1868); in the 1870s–1880s. - "Daemon" A.G. Rubinstein(1879), "Eugene Onegin" P.I. Tchaikovsky(1881), "Boris Godunov" M.P. Mussorgsky(1888); at the end of the century - “The Queen of Spades” (1891) and “Iolanta” (1893) by Tchaikovsky, “The Snow Maiden” ON THE. Rimsky-Korsakov(1893), "Prince Igor" A.P. Borodin(1898). This contributed to the fact that singers joined the troupe, thanks to whom the Bolshoi Theater opera reached enormous heights in the next century. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. they sang at the Bolshoi Theater Fyodor Chaliapin, Leonid Sobinov, Antonina Nezhdanova, which glorified the Russian opera school.
In excellent professional form at the end of the 19th century. There was also the Bolshoi Theater ballet. During these years, “The Sleeping Beauty” by Tchaikovsky was staged here. These works became a symbol of Russian ballet, and since then they have been constantly in the repertoire of the Bolshoi Theater. In 1899, choreographer A.A. made his debut at the Bolshoi. Gorsky, whose name is associated with the flourishing of Moscow ballet in the first quarter of the 20th century.
In the 20th century Great ballerinas danced at the Bolshoi Theater - Galina Ulanova And Maya Plisetskaya. On opera stage public idols performed - Sergey Lemeshev, Ivan Kozlovsky, Irina Arkhipova, Elena Obraztsova. Outstanding figures of Russian theater worked at the theater for many years - director B.A. Pokrovsky, conductor E.F. Svetlanov, choreographer Yu.N. Grigorovich.
Beginning of the 21st century at the Bolshoi Theater is associated with updating the repertoire, inviting famous theater directors and choreographers from different countries for productions, as well as with the work of the leading soloists of the troupe on the stages of foreign theaters.
The Bolshoi Theater hosts International competitions ballet dancers. There is a Choreographic School at the theater.
On foreign tours, the Bolshoi Theater ballet is often called The Bolshoi ballet. This name in Russian version is Bolshoi Ballet - V last years began to be used in Russia.
The Bolshoi Theater building on Teatralnaya Square in Moscow:

Bolshoi Theater Hall:

Russia. Large linguistic and cultural dictionary. - M.: State Institute of Russian Language named after. A.S. Pushkin. AST-Press. T.N. Chernyavskaya, K.S. Miloslavskaya, E.G. Rostova, O.E. Frolova, V.I. Borisenko, Yu.A. Vyunov, V.P. Chudnov. 2007 .

See what "BIG THEATER" is in other dictionaries:

Big theater- Building of the Main Stage of the Bolshoi Theater Location Moscow, Coordinates 55.760278, 37.618611 ... Wikipedia

Grand Theatre- Big theater. Moscow. Bolshoi Theater (State academic theater Opera and Ballet of Russia) (, 2), largest center Russian and world musical culture. The history of the Bolshoi Theater dates back to 1776 (see). The original name was Petrovsky... Moscow (encyclopedia)

Grand Theatre- State Academic Bolshoi Theater of the USSR (SABT), the leading Soviet opera and ballet theater, the largest center of Russian, Soviet and world musical theater culture. The modern theater building was built in 1820 24... ... Art encyclopedia

Grand Theatre- Big theater. Theater Square on the opening day of the Bolshoi Theater on August 20, 1856. Painting by A. Sadovnikov. BOLSHOY THEATER State academic (SABT), opera and ballet theater. One of the centers of Russian and world musical theater... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

BIG THEATER- State Academic (SABT), Opera and Ballet Theater. One of the centers of Russian and world musical theater culture. Founded in 1776 in Moscow. Modern building from 1824 (architect O. I. Bove; reconstructed in 1856, architect A. K. ... ... Russian history

BIG THEATER- State Academic (SABT), Opera and Ballet Theater. One of the centers of Russian and world musical theater culture. Founded in 1776 in Moscow. Modern building from 1824 (architect O.I. Bove; reconstructed in 1856, architect A.K.... ... Modern encyclopedia

BIG THEATER- State Academic Theater (SABT), Founded in 1776 in Moscow. Modern building from 1825 (architect O. I. Bove; reconstructed in 1856, architect A. K. Kavos). Foreign and first Russian operas and ballets by M. I. Glinka, A. S. were staged... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Grand Theatre- This term has other meanings, see Bolshoi Theater (meanings). Bolshoi Theater ... Wikipedia

Grand Theatre- BOLSHOY THEATER, State Order of Lenin Academic Bolshoi Theater of the USSR (SABT), leading Soviet musical theater. tr, who played an outstanding role in the formation and development of the national. traditions of ballet art. Its emergence is associated with the rise of Russian... ... Ballet. Encyclopedia

BIG THEATER- State Order of Lenin Academic Bolshoi Theater of the USSR, the oldest Russian. music theater, the largest center of music. theatrical culture, the building was also a venue for congresses and celebrations. meeting and other societies. events. Main... Soviet historical encyclopedia

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• Bolshoi Theater Culture and politics New history, Volkov S., The Bolshoi Theater is one of the most famous brands in Russia. In the West, the word Bolshoi does not need translation. Now it seems that it has always been this way. Not at all. Long years main musical… Category:

Story

The Bolshoi Theater began as a private theater for the provincial prosecutor, Prince Pyotr Urusov. On March 28, 1776, Empress Catherine II signed a “privilege” for the prince to maintain performances, masquerades, balls and other entertainment for a period of ten years. This date is considered the founding day of the Moscow Bolshoi Theater. At the first stage of the Bolshoi Theater's existence, the opera and drama troupes formed a single whole. The composition was very diverse: from serf artists to stars invited from abroad.

In the formation of the opera and drama troupe, Moscow University and the gymnasiums established under it played a large role, in which good musical education. Were established Theater classes under Moscow orphanage, who also supplied personnel to the new troupe.

The first theater building was built on the right bank of the Neglinka River. It faced Petrovka Street, hence the theater got its name - Petrovsky (later it will be called the Old Petrovsky Theater). Its opening took place on December 30, 1780. They gave a ceremonial prologue “Wanderers”, written by A. Ablesimov, and a large pantomimic ballet “The Magic School”, staged by L. Paradise to the music of J. Startzer. Then the repertoire was formed mainly from Russian and Italian comic operas with ballets and individual ballets.

The Petrovsky Theater, erected in record time - less than six months, became the first public theater building of such size, beauty and convenience to be built in Moscow. By the time of its opening, Prince Urusov, however, had already been forced to cede his rights to his partner, and subsequently the “privilege” was extended only to Medox.

However, disappointment awaited him too. Forced to constantly ask for loans from the Board of Trustees, Medox did not get out of debt. In addition, the authorities' opinion - previously very high - about the quality of his entrepreneurial activities has changed radically. In 1796, Madox's personal privilege expired, so both the theater and its debts were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees.

In 1802-03. The theater was handed over to Prince M. Volkonsky, the owner of one of the best Moscow home theater troupes. And in 1804, when the theater again came under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees, Volkonsky was actually appointed its director “on salary.”

Already in 1805, a project arose to create a theater directorate in Moscow “in the image and likeness” of the St. Petersburg one. In 1806 it was implemented - and the Moscow theater acquired the status of an imperial theater, coming under the jurisdiction of a single Directorate of Imperial Theaters.

In 1806, the school that the Petrovsky Theater had was reorganized into the Imperial Moscow drama school for training opera, ballet, drama artists and musicians of theater orchestras (in 1911 it became choreographic).

In the fall of 1805, the building of the Petrovsky Theater burned down. The troupe began performing on private stages. And since 1808 - on the stage of the new Arbat Theater, built according to the design of K. Rossi. This wooden building also died in a fire - during the Patriotic War of 1812.

In 1819, a competition was announced for the design of a new theater building. The winner was the project of Academy of Arts professor Andrei Mikhailov, who, however, was recognized as too expensive. As a result, the Moscow governor, Prince Dmitry Golitsyn, ordered the architect Osip Bova to correct it, which he did, and significantly improved it.

In July 1820, construction began on a new theater building, which was to become the center of the urban composition of the square and adjacent streets. The facade, decorated with a powerful portico on eight columns with a large sculptural group - Apollo on a chariot with three horses, “looked” at the Theater Square under construction, which contributed greatly to its decoration.

In 1822–23 Moscow theaters were separated from the general Directorate of Imperial Theaters and transferred to the authority of the Moscow Governor-General, who received the authority to appoint Moscow directors of the Imperial Theaters.

“Even closer, on a wide square, rises the Petrovsky Theater, a work the latest art, a huge building, made according to all the rules of taste, with a flat roof and a majestic portico, on which rises an alabaster Apollo, standing on one leg in an alabaster chariot, motionless driving three alabaster horses and looking with annoyance at the Kremlin wall, which jealously separates him from the ancients shrines of Russia!
M. Lermontov, youth essay “Panorama of Moscow”

On January 6, 1825, the grand opening of the new Petrovsky Theater took place - much larger than the lost old one, and therefore called the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater. They performed the prologue “The Triumph of the Muses” written specially for the occasion in verse (by M. Dmitrieva), with choirs and dances to the music of A. Alyabyev, A. Verstovsky and F. Scholz, as well as the ballet “Cendrillon” staged by a dancer and choreographer F. invited from France .IN. Güllen-Sor to the music of her husband F. Sor. The muses triumphed over the fire that destroyed the old theater building, and, led by the Genius of Russia, played by twenty-five-year-old Pavel Mochalov, they revived from the ashes new temple art. And although the theater was indeed very large, it could not accommodate everyone. Emphasizing the importance of the moment and condescending to the feelings of those suffering, the triumphal performance was repeated in its entirety the next day.

A new theater, surpassing in size even the capital, the St. Petersburg Bolshoi stone theater, was distinguished by monumental grandeur, proportionality of proportions, harmony architectural forms and wealth interior decoration. It turned out to be very convenient: the building had galleries for the passage of spectators, stairs leading to tiers, corner and side lounges for relaxation and spacious dressing rooms. The huge auditorium accommodated over two thousand people. The orchestra pit was deepened. During masquerades, the floor of the stalls was raised to the level of the proscenium, the orchestra pit was covered with special shields, and a wonderful “dance floor” was created.

In 1842, Moscow theaters were again placed under the control of the general Directorate of Imperial Theaters. The director then was A. Gedeonov, and the manager of the Moscow theater office was appointed famous composer A. Verstovsky. The years when he was “in power” (1842–59) were called the “Verstovsky era.”

And although dramatic performances continued to be staged on the stage of the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater, operas and ballets began to occupy an increasing place in its repertoire. Works by Donizetti, Rossini, Meyerbeer, young Verdi, and Russian composers such as Verstovsky and Glinka were staged (the Moscow premiere of A Life for the Tsar took place in 1842, and the opera Ruslan and Lyudmila in 1846).

The building of the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theater existed for almost 30 years. But he too suffered the same sad fate: on March 11, 1853, a fire broke out in the theater, which lasted three days and destroyed everything it could. Theater machines, costumes burned, musical instruments, notes, scenery... The building itself was almost completely destroyed, from which only charred stone walls and columns of the portico remained.

Three prominent Russian architects took part in the competition to restore the theater. It was won by Albert Kavos, a professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts and the chief architect of the imperial theaters. He specialized mainly in theatrical buildings, was well versed in theater technology and in the design of multi-tiered theaters with a box stage and Italian and French types of boxes.

Restoration work progressed rapidly. In May 1855, the dismantling of the ruins was completed and the reconstruction of the building began. And in August 1856 it already opened its doors to the public. This speed was explained by the fact that the construction had to be completed in time for the celebrations of the coronation of Emperor Alexander II. The Bolshoi Theater, practically rebuilt and with very significant changes compared to the previous building, opened on August 20, 1856 with the opera “The Puritans” by V. Bellini.

The total height of the building has increased by almost four meters. Despite the fact that the porticoes with Beauvais columns have been preserved, the appearance of the main facade has changed quite a lot. A second pediment appeared. Apollo's horse troika was replaced by a quadriga cast in bronze. An alabaster bas-relief appeared on the inner field of the pediment, representing flying geniuses with a lyre. The frieze and capitals of the columns have changed. Sloping canopies on cast iron pillars were installed above the entrances of the side facades.

But the theater architect, of course, paid the main attention to the auditorium and stage part. In the second half of the 19th century, the Bolshoi Theater was considered one of the best in the world for its acoustic properties. And he owed this to the skill of Albert Kavos, who designed the auditorium as a huge musical instrument. Wooden panels from resonant spruce were used to decorate the walls, instead of an iron ceiling, a wooden one was made, and a picturesque ceiling was made of wooden panels - everything in this room worked for acoustics. Even the decor of the boxes is made of papier-mâché. In order to improve the acoustics of the hall, Kavos also filled up the rooms under the amphitheater, where the wardrobe was located, and moved the hangers to the stall level.

The space of the auditorium was significantly expanded, which made it possible to create antechambers - small living rooms furnished to receive visitors from the stalls or boxes located next door. The six-tier hall accommodated almost 2,300 spectators. On both sides near the stage there were lettered boxes intended for the royal family, the Ministry of the Court and the theater directorate. The ceremonial royal box, slightly protruding into the hall, became its center, opposite the stage. The barrier of the Royal Box was supported by consoles in the form of bent atlases. The crimson and gold splendor amazed everyone who entered this hall - both in the first years of the Bolshoi Theater's existence and decades later.

“I tried to decorate the auditorium as luxuriously and at the same time as lightly as possible, in the taste of the Renaissance mixed with Byzantine style. White color", strewn with gold, the bright crimson draperies of the interior boxes, the different 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 general approval."
Albert Kavos

The auditorium chandelier was originally illuminated by 300 oil lamps. To light oil lamps, it was lifted through a hole in the lampshade into a special room. Around this hole a circular composition of the ceiling was built, on which Academician A. Titov painted “Apollo and the Muses”. This painting “has a secret”, revealed only to a very attentive eye, which, in addition to everything, should belong to an expert in ancient Greek mythology: instead of one of the canonical muses - the muse of the sacred hymns of Polyhymnia, Titov depicted a muse of painting invented by him - with a palette and brush in his hands.

The front curtain was created Italian artist, professor at St. Petersburg Imperial Academy Fine Arts Kazroe Douzi. Of the three sketches, the one that depicted “The Entry of Minin and Pozharsky into Moscow” was chosen. In 1896, it was replaced with a new one - “View of Moscow from the Sparrow Hills” (made by P. Lambin based on a drawing by M. Bocharov), which was used at the beginning and end of the performance. And for intermissions, another curtain was made - “The Triumph of the Muses” based on a sketch by P. Lambin (the only curtain of the 19th century preserved in the theater today).

After the revolution of 1917, the curtains of the imperial theater were sent into exile. In 1920, theater artist F. Fedorovsky, while working on a production of the opera “Lohengrin,” created a sliding curtain made of bronze-painted canvas, which was then used as the main curtain. In 1935, according to a sketch by F. Fedorovsky, a new curtain was made, on which revolutionary dates were woven - “1871, 1905, 1917”. In 1955, the famous golden “Soviet” curtain of F. Fedorovsky reigned in the theater for half a century - with woven state symbols THE USSR.

Like most buildings on Teatralnaya Square, the Bolshoi Theater was built on stilts. Gradually the building deteriorated. Drainage work has lowered the groundwater level. The top part of the piles rotted and this caused a large settlement of the building. In 1895 and 1898 The foundations were repaired, which temporarily helped to stop the ongoing destruction.

The last performance of the Imperial Bolshoi Theater took place on February 28, 1917. And on March 13, the State Bolshoi Theater opened.

After October revolution not only the foundations, but also the very existence of the theater was under threat. It took several years for the power of the victorious proletariat to forever abandon the idea of ​​closing the Bolshoi Theater and destroying its building. In 1919, she awarded it the title of academic, which at that time did not even provide a guarantee of safety, since within a few days the issue of its closure was again hotly debated.

However, in 1922, the Bolshevik government still found the closure of the theater economically inexpedient. By that time, it was already in full swing “adapting” the building to its needs. The Bolshoi Theater hosted All-Russian congresses Councils, meetings of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, congresses of the Comintern. And the formation of a new country - the USSR - was also proclaimed from the stage of the Bolshoi Theater.

Back in 1921, a special government commission examined the theater building and found its condition catastrophic. It was decided to launch emergency response work, the head of which was appointed architect I. Rerberg. Then the foundations under the ring walls of the auditorium were strengthened, the wardrobe rooms were restored, the staircases were redesigned, new rehearsal rooms and artistic restrooms were created. In 1938, a major reconstruction of the stage was carried out.

Master plan for the reconstruction of Moscow 1940-41. provided for the demolition of all houses behind the Bolshoi Theater up to the Kuznetsky Bridge. On the vacated territory it was planned to build the premises necessary for the theater's operation. And in the theater itself there had to be established Fire safety and ventilation. In April 1941, the Bolshoi Theater was closed for necessary repairs. And two months later the Great Patriotic War began.

Part of the Bolshoi Theater staff evacuated to Kuibyshev, while others remained in Moscow and continued to perform performances on the stage of the branch. Many artists performed as part of front-line brigades, others went to the front themselves.

On October 22, 1941, at four o'clock in the afternoon, a bomb hit the Bolshoi Theater building. The blast wave passed obliquely between the columns of the portico, pierced the facade wall and caused significant damage to the vestibule. Despite the hardships of wartime and the terrible cold, restoration work began in the theater in the winter of 1942.

And already in the fall of 1943, the Bolshoi Theater resumed its activities with the production of M. Glinka’s opera “A Life for the Tsar”, from which the stigma of being monarchical was removed and recognized as patriotic and folk, however, for this it was necessary to revise its libretto and give a new reliable name - “Ivan Susanin” "

Cosmetic renovations to the theater were carried out annually. More large-scale work was also undertaken regularly. But there was still a catastrophic lack of rehearsal space.

In 1960, a large rehearsal hall was built and opened in the theater building - right under the roof, in the former set room.

In 1975, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the theater, some restoration work was carried out in the auditorium and Beethoven hall. However, the main problems - the instability of the foundations and the lack of space inside the theater - were not resolved.

Finally, in 1987, by decree of the Government of the country, a decision was made on the need for urgent reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater. But it was clear to everyone that in order to preserve the troupe, the theater should not stop its creative activity. We needed a branch. However, eight years passed before the first stone of its foundation was laid. And seven more before the New Stage building was built.

November 29, 2002 New scene opened with the premiere of the opera “The Snow Maiden” by N. Rimsky-Korsakov, a production that was entirely consistent with the spirit and purpose of the new building, that is, innovative, experimental.

In 2005, the Bolshoi Theater closed for restoration and reconstruction. But this is a separate chapter in the chronicle of the Bolshoi Theater.

To be continued...

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Konstantin Stanislavsky said that theater begins with a hanger. But if the building was designed and built by a famous architect, a special atmosphere appears for the audience at the very entrance. We remember seven Russian theaters that have become architectural monuments.

Bolshoi Theater in Moscow

When rebuilding Moscow after the fire of 1812, architects tried to use surviving fragments of previous buildings. The only wall of the Petrovsky Theater was to become part of the new temple of Melpomene. It was built in the second half of the 18th century by engineer Michael Maddox and architect Christian Rosberg.

Experienced architects Domenico Gilardi, Pietro Gonzago, Alexey Bakarev participated in the first stage of the competition, but none of the projects was approved. Andrey Mikhailov won the repeat competition. Expensive project monumental building finalized by Osip Bove. He preserved Mikhailov's plan, but changed the proportions of the theater and laid out a square in front of it. At first it was called Petrovskaya, and then it was renamed Teatralnaya.

In 1853, the building was badly damaged by fire: only the outer walls and the portico colonnade survived. The modern Bolshoi Theater was built in the 1850s by Albert Kavos. During the restoration, the architect retained the general layout and volume of the building, but returned to Mikhailov’s original proportions and decorated the theater in an eclectic style. The sculptural design of the building has also changed. The alabaster chariot of Apollo on the pediment was replaced by a copper quadriga of horses designed by Pyotr Klodt. It was placed above the portico.

“I tried to decorate the auditorium as luxuriously and at the same time as lightly as possible, in the taste of the Renaissance mixed with Byzantine style. The white color studded with gold, the bright crimson draperies of the interior boxes, the different 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 deserved general approval.

Albert Kavos

Alexandrinsky Theater in St. Petersburg

The Alexandrinsky Theater was built by Carl Rossi on modern Ostrovsky Square in 1832 on the site of the wooden Maly Theater. The architect developed a design for the development of both the square in front of the building and the street behind it.

An innovative roof design for the early 19th century was invented by Carl Rossi in collaboration with engineer Matvey Clark. Officials were afraid to approve the ceiling on iron arched trusses: no one had ever used this before. Then Carl Rossi promised to hang himself on one of the rafters of the theater if something happened to the roof.

The Empire style building is decorated with works by Stepan Pimenov and Vasily Demut-Malinovsky: a frieze with theatrical masks, a sculptural quadriga of Apollo, statues of muses. The Imperial Theater received its name in honor of the wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna.

In addition to the solemn exterior, the theater also had an impressive interior design. The multi-tiered system of boxes with an amphitheater and stalls was at that time the leading word in theatrical architecture. From the luxurious interior of those years, only the central and two side boxes near the stage have survived. The picturesque ceiling of the hall, created by the artist Anton Vigi, has also been lost.

Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg

Albert Kavos became the author of the main stage of St. Petersburg. The Mariinsky Theater received its name in honor of the wife of Emperor Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna. The building, which Kavos built in 1848, could serve as a platform for theatrical productions, and for circuses. After the fire in 1859, the Mariinsky Theater was reconstructed. Since then, only theatrical performances began to take place there.

Later, the building was rebuilt by the chief architect of the Imperial Theaters, Viktor Schroeter, with Nikolai Benois helping him in this. The theater has a new building for rehearsal rooms, office space and workshops. Schröter changed a little and appearance buildings: with the help of the famous turret on the dome, the architect disguised the ventilation pipe. The interiors have also been updated. The lush curtain, made according to the sketches of Alexander Golovin, remains one of the symbols today Mariinsky Theater.

Nizhny Novgorod Drama Theater

The Nizhny Novgorod theater is one of the oldest in Russia, it has existed since the end of the 18th century. However, their own stone building was built for it only at the end XIX century. Its project was developed by theater architecture specialist Victor Schröter. But in fact, the construction according to Schröter’s design was led by architects Pavel Malinovsky and Nikolai Frelikh.

The new theater was opened in 1896, on the day of the coronation of Nicholas II, with the opera A Life for the Tsar by Mikhail Glinka. Spectators quickly nicknamed it the “blue theater” - this was the color of the curtains on the boxes and doors, the plush upholstery of the seats and barriers. Actor and director Nikolai Sobolshchikov-Samarin later recalled: “I was the first artist who entered the theater stage of the new Nizhny Novgorod theater in 1896. It seemed to me that in this beautiful building, flooded with electric light, all my rainbow dreams about the present would come true art theater. Every time I entered the theater, I was overcome with a kind of awe, and I found myself walking along its corridors on tiptoe, in awe.”.

Irkutsk Drama Theater

Based on designs by Victor Schröter end of the 19th century century, about ten theater buildings were built in Russian Empire- Georgian Opera and Ballet Theater in Tbilisi, Opera House in Kyiv, a theater in Rybinsk that has not survived to this day, and others. He also became the author of the drama theater in Irkutsk. As a competition project, Schröter proposed the scheme of a tiered theater with stalls, boxes and a deep stage, which he had worked out to perfection.

The Irkutsk authorities allocated a modest budget for construction. Schröter had to build a small building for 800 people, but at the same time aesthetically pleasing and functional. There were other restrictions: for example, the architect was tasked with constructing a building of brick and limestone without plaster or stucco. Construction began in 1893 and lasted only three years. Although not all of Victor Schröter’s ideas were realized, Irkutsk Theatre of Drama amazed contemporaries with its exquisite appearance, elegant decoration, technical equipment and impeccable acoustics.

One of the main monuments of the Stalinist Empire style is the theater Soviet army- became the first Moscow theater building erected after the revolution. Construction according to the project of Karo Alabyan, Vasily Simbirtsev and Boris Barkhin lasted from 1934 to 1940, and was personally supervised by Marshal Kliment Voroshilov. According to legend, it was he who came up with the idea to erect a building in the shape of a five-pointed star.

The height of the Soviet Army Theater is ten ground floors and the same number underground. Halls Big and Small stage in total they can accommodate almost 2000 people. The main stage was designed for performances involving more than a thousand people. The authors of the project assumed that an infantry battalion, tanks and cavalry would be able to participate in the performances. They even created a special entrance for military equipment. True, tanks have not yet been used in any production: the stage cannot support their weight.

The interior of the theater was decorated by famous muralists of the 1930s. Lev Bruni created frescoes of the acoustic ceiling, Vladimir Favorsky created a sketch of a reinforced concrete curtain-portal, Ilya Feinberg and Alexander Deineka decorated the ceiling lamps with paintings. Picturesque panels by Pavel Sokolov-Skal and Alexander Gerasimov were placed on the main staircases. Furniture, chandeliers and many interior details were created according to special orders.

Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater

The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater is called the “Siberian Coliseum”. The largest theater building built in Russia in 1931–1941. However, it could look different. Initially, the architect Alexander Grinberg conceived it as a House of Science and Culture consisting of six buildings with huge theater, concert and exhibition halls, library, museum and research institute.

The theater itself was also supposed to become innovative - “a theater of technology and real environment.” It was planned that large troupes would play here, cars and tractors would appear on stage, and special mechanisms would ensure a quick change of scenery. It was planned that the theater would be transformed into a swimming pool for water performances, a circus or a planetarium.

During construction, the authors of the project abandoned these grandiose ideas. With the participation of architects Alexander Kurovsky, Victor Birkenberg and Grigory Dankman, a traditional building was built instead of the House of Science and Culture Opera theatre. Grand opening took place a few days after the Victory - May 12, 1945.

On October 28, after a lengthy reconstruction, the historical building of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia opens.

The founding date of the Bolshoi Theater is considered to be March 28 (March 17, O.S.) 1776, when the famous philanthropist and 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. 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 a plot of land at the beginning of Petrovskaya Street, which was 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.

The main façade of the theater faced Petrovka Street and had almost no decoration, while the high auditorium with tiers of boxes and an inclined stall, on the contrary, was luxuriously decorated.

Based on the name of the street on which the theater was located, it became known as “Petrovsky”.

The Medox Theater burned down in 1805; its charred ruins stood at the beginning of Petrovka Street until 1815, when, by order of Emperor Alexander I, reconstruction of the area in front of the theater began, which was later named Theater Square.

According to the project of the Moscow architect Osip Bove, an extensive rectangular area, built up with houses of the same type. It was planned to build a new theater in the northern part of the square. The project of St. Petersburg architect Andrei Mikhailov won the competition held by the Academy of Arts. He assumed typical solution in the Empire style: a rectangular volume with an eight-column Ionic portico (a protruding part of the building, open on one or three sides and formed by columns or arches supporting the ceiling) on ​​the main end facade and its elevated middle part, which was decorated with the quadriga of Apollo, set against the background deep arched niche.

Mikhailov’s project was significantly reworked by the same Bove, who developed the ceremonial decor and the original design of the auditorium, and somewhat changed the proportions of the entire building (it became lower), and also left the rustication (relief masonry), which in Mikhailov’s project filled the entire surface of the walls, only in the lower third of the facades. The theater was named Bolshoi Petrovsky.

The opening of the theater took place on January 18 (January 6, old style) 1825. The townspeople called the new building "Colosseum". The performances held here were invariably a success, gathering high-society Moscow society.

During the reconstruction, the historical appearance of the building was completely restored.

The facades of the Bolshoi Theater have been restored to their original appearance.

The theater's area was more than doubled. The development of underground space was aimed at meeting the theater's needs for functional space without changing its external volume. Thanks to this, the theater acquired new premises, including an underground concert hall, located under Theater Square. In addition to the concert rehearsal hall itself and the adjacent service rooms, in the underground part there is a large number of technical, household and office premises.

An equally important task was the combination of a strict approach of scientific restoration in the historical area and the installation of the most modern technological equipment in the stage part and new spaces of the theater.

Particular attention was paid to restoring the legendary acoustics of the Auditorium. International experts conducted numerous acoustic studies and strictly monitored the implementation of all technical recommendations.

The project found its application in the most modern solutions in the field of stage mechanization. Technological equipment is installed in the main building of the Bolshoi Theater and in the new underground concert rehearsal hall. The theater received the opportunity to create the most modern and complex productions. New mechanics made it possible to change scenery in a matter of minutes.

The reconstruction project also included the restoration of the Khomyakov House, a monument to the first half of the 19th century century, converted into a service building.

The material was prepared based on information open sources and RIA Novosti.

It is generally accepted that the Bolshoi Theater was founded in March 1776, when the 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.

Initially, the theater did not have its own building and most often gave performances in Vorontsov’s house on Znamenka. But already in 1780, according to the design of H. Rosberg, at the expense of Medox, a special stone building was built on the site of the modern Bolshoi Theater. 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 Moscow staged dramatic, opera and ballet performances. Operas received special attention, so the Petrovsky Theater was more often called the “Opera House”.

In 1805, the building burned down, and until 1825, performances were again staged at different venues.

In the 1820s, the square in front of the former Petrovsky Theater was reconstructed. According to the architect's plan, a whole classical ensemble appeared here, the dominant feature of which was the building of the Bolshoi Theater (1824). It partially included the walls of the burnt Petrovsky Theater.

An eight-column building in a classical style with the chariot of the god Apollo above the portico, decorated inside in red and gold tones, according to contemporaries, it was the best theater in Europe and in scale was second only to Milan's La Scala. It opened on January 6 (18), 1825.

But this theater also suffered the same fate as its predecessor: on March 11, 1853, for an unknown reason, a fire started in the theater. Costumes, scenery, the troupe's archive, part of the music library, rare musical instruments were destroyed, and the building itself was damaged.

Its restoration was led by Albert Kavos. He took the volumetric-spatial structure of Beauvais as a basis, but increased the height of the building, changed the proportions and redesigned the decor; cast-iron galleries with lamps appeared on the sides. Kavos changed the shape and size of the main auditorium, which began to accommodate up to 3 thousand people. The alabaster group of Apollo, which decorated the Beauvais Theater, was destroyed in a fire. To create a new one, Kavos invited the famous Russian sculptor Pyotr Klodt, the author of the famous 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 theater existed in this form until the end of the twentieth century. In 2005, the largest restoration and reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theater began. The restoration project was revised several times. The renovated Bolshoi Theater opened on October 11, 2011.