The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow opened on January 18, 1825. On July 2, 2005, the historic building of the Bolshoi Theatre was closed for renovation. For 6 long years, strenuous work was carried out to rebuild, improve the technical capabilities of the stage, restore the historical details of the building. The Bolshoi Theatre opened on October 28, 2011. The complexity of the work was driven by 85% manual labour requirement: because construction had to be carried out in the underground part of the theatre there is practically no mechanisation of labour.
Repairs were initially estimated at $610 million but engineers found that more than 75% of the structure was unstable, and as a result, the cost estimate jumped to approximately $850 million. After the work, however, it was announced that only $688 mil had been spent. According to The Moscow Times, the true cost may have been double that, and Der Spiegel quotes a figure of $1.1 billion. The rebuilding and renovation were funded entirely by the federal government.
After reconstruction, the theatre has 13 floors - 7 aboveground and 6 underground.
The area of the Bolshoi Theatre has doubled and amounted to 80 thousand square meters.
The Bolshoi's Orchestra pit is the largest in Europe suitable for 130 orchestras.
Historically, the building was designed for only 200 artists, but now its main troupe consists of 2,000 people.
The renovation included an improvement in acoustics, to attempt to replicate the sound believed to have existed in pre-Soviet times, and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.
Above the stage, The Bolshoi Theatre has a belfry of 20 bells.
The movable orchestra pit has been provided with extra space under the fore-stage. This makes it one of the biggest orchestra pits in the world seating up to 130 musicians, which is necessary for the performance of such large-scale works as, for instance, Wagner operas. When required the pit can be removed to host presentations, big-scale events and competitions.
The stage of the Bolshoi Theatre is not flat, it has a 7-degree slope. From the point of view of theatre directors, an oblique stage can heighten a sense of depth and dimension in production or choreography. However, actors and dancers accustomed to performing on level stages may have some problems when performing on an incline. The most common problem is the loss of balance. Also, some dancers sometimes complain of dizziness.
The five tiers of the auditorium can accommodate over 1800 spectators. The total area of the hall, which is located on six underground levels, is 7.5 thousand square meters.
In terms of its acoustic properties, it is considered one of the best in the world (by the end of the 19th century, it was the number one theatre in the world).
State of the art machinery has been installed in the stage-house. The Bolshoi Theatre Historic stage now consists of seven two-tier rising and descending platforms. These platforms can easily change their positions, thus the stage can become horizontal, raked or stepped. The stage and backstage area can be united which creates a stage space of incredible depth.
New upper stage equipment, remotely controlled by a computer, makes it possible to derive maximum use from lighting, sound and visual effects. Cutting edge rigs have been installed for the deployment of lanterns, special effects apparatus and acoustics.
Music: Waltz from “Swan Lake” by P. I. Tchaikovsky
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