Finally another theater was built on Petrovka Street 185 years ago – the Bolshoi. The theater survived some tough periods in the history of Moscow. In 1853 it was damaged by fire, but was reconstructed. After the blaze the ceilings were made higher and the wainscots and the upper circles were constructed of wood thus making it a perfect place in terms of acoustics. The Bolshoi Theater, with its seating capacity of up to three thousand people, came to represent one of the trademarks of the Russian capital.

The magnificent multi-pillared building is a fine exponent of the classic style in architecture. Its portico is decorated with an Apollo chariot and its interior is a mixture of golden and scarlet ornaments. In the 19th century the Bolshoi was considered the most beautiful theater in Europe, second only to Milan’s La Scala in beauty and splendor.

In 2005 the Bolshoi Theater was closed for restoration. In October 2011 the renovated theater is set to greet audiences with the premier of the celebrated “Ruslan and Lyudmila” opera.