Bolshoi Theater. 250 Years of Great History

The Bolshoi Theater today is a symbol of Russian culture, a model of theatrical art. In 2026, the theater will celebrate its anniversary – it will turn 250 years old. This book will be a special gift to the theater and to all who love it. It will tell about its history, its formation. How the future "Bolshoi" settled first on Znamenka, then on Petrovka and Arbat. How it survived fires, wars, revolutions, and crises – it was restored multiple times and continued to operate. On its stage, celebrated figures like Chaliapin, Plisetskaya, and Ulanova shone, operas by Glinka and Rachmaninoff were staged, and notable visitors like Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Fidel Castro walked through its halls. It is impossible to list all the illustrious names of composers, artists, and architects that the Bolshoi Theater has inscribed in its history. Take a peek behind the curtain of time: learn how the theatrical business began in Russia, get acquainted with the plots of iconic productions, observe theatrical intrigues, and uncover all the secrets of the majestic "Bolshoi".