Since 2005 the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theatre has been under restoration and the plan is to start the new season there. Yet some of the Bolshoi's artists have labeled the renovations catastrophic as the 'soul' of the theatre may disappear with the

It is a large-scale project and is proving to be more costly than restoring Milano's La Scala and Paris's Palais Garnier, and there are fears the renovation may extend over the March 2008 deadline.

From drilling and assembling to brushing and polishing: the Bolshoi is getting a big facelift. A billion dollar project financed by the Russian government is carried out by close to 200 Russian and foreign companies.

The first Tchaikovsky's  'Swan Lake' ballet was performed in the theatre in 1877. Bolshoi talents like Vladimir Vasilyev and Maya Plisetskaya grew into stars, not to mention the numerous world names who've been guest at its stage. Now the Bolshoi Theatre is concluding its 231st season.

The Globe's best known stage hasn't been renovated since 1856. It was plagued by acoustics and safety problems, and running water underground created several splits in the building's walls and foundation. 

“The theatre was built for a cast of 250 people, now the cast is over 2500 with new equipment, and we need to expand the space and to secure the building a new system of fire alarm and security system,” Aleksandr Smirnov, chief restorer, explained.

The plan includes building the underground sarcophagi, securing the foundation with metal piles and wiring all of the walls, building five floors underneath the Bolshoi with 40,000 sq meter extra space, including another stage. And for the original stage, over $US 200 MLN worth of equipment is to be produced and installed by the German company Bosch Rexrot featuring a hi-tech device to raise the roof of the theatre when needed.

Through the dust and scaffolding one can only imagine what it may look like. For what already has been done, one has to climb up and see. At the very top of the facade, the most important Russia's symbol in terms of national pride, the two-headed eagle of the original Russian coat of arms has been installed in place where the Soviet sickle and hammer hung for decades.

Getting rid of the soviet symbols, and lifting 16 layers of paint is what decorative work boils down to preserving the history and keeping up with the times. But letting go of the past isn't easy for some. Bolshoi star Nikolay Tseskaridze calls the renovations catastrophic.

“We believe the souls of dead actors continue living on stage, and the theatre was there for 230 years. You can imagine how many talented people worked and left their energy there. It is a tragedy, its all been demolished and I am petrified to set my foot on the 'new old' stage,” Mr Tseskaridze compained.

Most of the Bolshoi fans cannot wait for the historical building to open. The official deadline is in eight months.

The Bolshoi plans to open its 232nd season on its historical stage, and the site's chief restorer is confident their job will be finished on time.

The new stage, just a hundred metres from old sight, has been home to the Bolshoi company since 2002 and its director is in no hurry.

“Our main task is to preserve the building as an architectural monument, so this lengthy and gentle restoration is what I personally prefer. Let it be a year later, but done well so we wouldn't have to come back to it for the next 100 years,” Anatoly Iksanov, Director general of the Bolshoi Theatre, said.

While 24-hour work at the centre of Moscow continues the Bolshoi has got plenty to do: in Russia and abroad it is booked ahead for at least 10 years.