Bolshoi Theatre

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Lonely Planet review

Theatre Square anchors ul Petrovka with its three grand theatres surrounding a wide plaza and flowing fountain. The centrepiece, of course, is the world-renowned Bolshoi Theatre. The present pink-and-white beauty was built in 1824, replacing the Petrovka Theatre that previously stood on this site. This historic theatre saw the premier of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake in 1877 and The Nutcracker in 1919. The main stage has recently reopened after much-needed renovations, while the New Stage continues to put on performances.

Across and down ul Petrovka from the ‘grand’ Bolshoi is the ‘lesser’ Maly Theatre, also built in 1824. Back in the day, when there were only two theatres in Moscow, the custom was to label the opera theatre the bolshoi and the drama theatre the maly. On the west side of the square is the National Youth Theatre.