It’s Open House at the World-Famous Bolshoi Theater!

Moscow’s legendary Bolshoi Theater is rolling out some of its finest classic ballet and opera performances online via YouTube, for free!

This generous gesture, happening just as millions of people around the world are hunkering down in their homes, was announced just a few days ago, immediately after Moscow’s mayor ordered the closure of non-essential services.

“We've never faced this type of situation before, and since we had to close the theater, we didn't want to lose our connection with our audience,” explains Vladimir Urin, The Bolshoi Theater’s General Director, about the digital shows, which for many, are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch world-class performances.

Principal dancer, Denis Rodkin, told Reuters that streaming shows online should reinvigorate and uplift the mood of people confined to their homes during the current quarantine season:  “Art, and the Bolshoi Theater’s broadcasts in particular, support people in these difficult conditions…they will be inspired, recharged with art!”

 

 

 

 

 

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What’s being screened, and when?
There are four upcoming performances at the time of publication, as publicized by The Bolshoi Theater’s website:

• April 1, 2020: “The Tsar’s Bride” (2018), an opera in 4 acts (music by Rimsky-Korsakov)
• April 4, 2020: “Marco Spada” (2014), a ballet in 3 acts (music by Auber)
• April 7, 2020 “Boris Godunov” (2019), an opera in 4 acts (music by Mussorgsky)
• April 10^,  2020: “The Nutcracker” (2011), a ballet in 2 acts (music by Tchaikovsky)

In true fairy-tale style, each exquisitely-filmed show will remain on the Bolshoi’s official YouTube channel for just 24 hours after it is first streamed as a virtual premiere at 7 p.m. Moscow time.

More about The Bolshoi Theater
Moscow’s historic Bolshoi Theater is home to the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera, among the world’s oldest and most respected companies. Founded by a Russian prince in 1776, as a private theater, Empress Catherine II granted it a royal mandate to offer performances and other forms of entertainment, with the first dedicated building opening its doors in 1780.

 

 

 

 

 

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Today’s imposing bigger (bolshoi) building opened in 1856, marking the coronation celebrations of Emperor Alexander II.  Ballet stars linked to it include Mikhail Baryshnikov, who famously leapt to the West in 1974 while touring in Canada with the Company. Today, The Bolshoi Ballet troupe is the world’s largest, with over 200 dancers. 

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