Theatres and concerts

Moscow is famed for its rich cultural life. The city boasts more than 60 officially registered theatres, with new ones opening all the time.

Bolshoy Opera and Ballet Theatre. Formally known as the Great Imperial Theatre; it was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1854 and now seats 2,155 people. Its ballet company is world famous; there are many Russian and foreign operas in its repertory, and its orchestra is also outstanding.The Bolshoy's building is remarkable architecturally, with its monumental colonnade topped by a quadriga of bronze horses. The gilded, 19th-century auditorium is itself a sight to behold.

Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre. A Ballet and Opera theatre, seating 1,400. It performs classical and modern operas, ballets and operettas.

Kremlin Palace of Congresses. The Bolshoy and other opera and ballet troupes hold regular performances in this modern concert hall with 6000 seats where the Soviet Communist Party congresses were once held. Entrance is through the whitewashed Kutafya Gate, near the Manage.

Kolonny Zal (Hall of Columns). It holds chamber-music and symphony concerts.

Concerts. Moscow's musical life is particularly rich; the city has a number of syphiny orchestras, as well as song-and-dance ensembles.

Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. This huge concert hall with seating for more than 1,600 is home to the State Symphony Orchestra.

Tchaikovsky Conservatoire. 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.

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

Drama Theatres. 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 versions. There are 16 drama theatres; the most popular are: Taganka, Sovremennik, Moscow Arts Theatre, Vakhtangov, Mayakovsky and Moscow Drama Theatre. The puppet theatre is also excellent