Theatres and concerts

Moscow’s numerous theatres offer the art lovers a great choice of evening performances, from the renowned Russian ballet and classical opera on the stage of legendary Bolshoi Theatre to drama productions, plays by contemporary playwrights performed by actors of world repute.

The Bolshoi Theatre, founded in 1776, is the Russian main stage where visitors can see famous ballets and operas by great Russian composers: “Swan Lake” by Chaikovsky, “The Snow Maiden” by Rimsky-Korsakov, “Khovanshina” by Mussorgsky and other. No less popular are masterpieces of the world stage created by European composers, such as “The Flying Dutchman” by Wagner, “Turandot” and “Madam Butterfly” by Puccini or “The Magic Flute” and “Don Giovanni” by Mozart. Artistically, the Bolshoi Theatre companies are developing dynamically, without fear of experiment or bold innovation. Thus, the world premiere of the notorious opera “The Children of Rosental” by Desyatnikov took place here in 2005 and three productions are being shown to the music of Dmitry Shostakovich: “The clear Stream”, “Bolt” and the “Golden Age”.

Even though you don’t speak Russian, you might want to explore the drama theatres and compare their productions of Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Gogol and Chekhov or of modern playwrights with the Western translations. There are 16 drama theatres; the most popular are: Taganka, Sovremennik, Vakhtangov, Moscow Arts Theatre, Mayakovsky and Moscow Drama Theatre. The puppet theatre is also excellent.

Lovers of classical music will not miss the opportunity to listen to the academic orchestra in the hall of the Moscow Conservatoire or the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. This huge concert hall, with seating for more than 1,600 is home to the State Symphony Orchestra. The acoustics of this magnificent concert hall are excellent, and portraits of the world’s great composers hang above the high balcony. Rachmaninov, Skriabin and Tchaikovsky number among the famous composers who have worked here. There is also a Small Hall, usually reserved for chamber-music concerts. Interest in symphonic music does not fall in Moscow and a new building has been recently erected, “Music-House” on the Hills”, designed specially for concerts of classical music.

The old world famous Moscow circus at Tsvetnoi Boulevard is often a hit with foreign tourists. It has long, varied and spectacular programme. The large, modern New Circus at Prospect Vernadskogo has four interchangeable floors including a pool and an ice-rink, which allow it to give breathtaking shows.