The Bolshoi Theatre has been in existence for more than two centuries. The date associated with the theatre’s opening is the year 1776. This was when Empress Catherine granted Moscow Prosecutor Duke Urusov the permission to hold performances and masquerades in the space. Duke Urusov partnered with English businessman Michael Maddox and they purchased some land together (the very same space where the Bolshoi is located now) and built, what was then called Petrovsky Theatre, the Bolshoi Theatre in 1780. That building was subsequently destroyed by a fire in the year 1805. The Company continued to perform in a nearby space on Arbat Street. After the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscow city planners were given permission to not just design individual buildings but architectural ensembles. At that time Osip Bove suggested designing a new theatre as well as an entire Theatre square. The Bolshoi theatre that was constructed based on the design of Bove-Mikhailov’s design was opened in 1825 in place of the Petrovsky theatre. The Bolshoi theatre was originally designed and constructed as classic arts house and its facade was decorated octastyle portico, or which a porch and columns, with a hovering sculpture of Apollo who is the patron of muses.

This building stood for less than 30 years and was destroyed by another fire in 1853. The reconstruction and restoration was completed by an outstanding architect who was the son of the court composer Catterino Cavos. His name was Albert Cavos. The opening of the newly constructed theatre was arranged to coincide with coronation of Alexander II Emperor and took place in 1856. Since that time the theatre had has no heavy repair. However, in the year 2005, building and its foundation were in a dangerous state of disrepair.

It was then that the restoration and reconstruction of the main building of the Bolshoi Theatre became a great global project. The theatre had become one of the symbols of Russia on the international stage. Therefore the restoration of the Bolshoi Theater was scrutinized by the state authorities and the public.

Special inter-agency working group was formed in 2009 by order of the President in order to coordinate project participants and to control reconstruction and restoration of the main stage of the country. In July 2009 the project on reconstruction and restoration of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre was joined by Investment Group “Summa Capital”, the founder of which Ziyavudin Magomedov is the guardian of the theatre.

As Investment Group “Summa Capital” had become the holder of controlling stake of main contractor CJSC “SUIproject”, it has effected considerable increase in work pace in short time. Restoration of historic building of the Bolshoi Theatre is longstanding cooperative painstaking work of thousands of designers, architects, restorers, artists, sculptors, engineers, acousticians, fitters and other specialists.

History of the Bolshoi Theater is actually the history of continuous reconstructions and restorations almost from the date of its construction till present time. The last 120 years the building of theater is under constant process of restoration and repairs. Rate of building dilapidation is within the range of 50 – 70 percent according to different appraisals. Different methods of restoration and reconstruction of the Bolshoi Theatre were suggested: from trivial capital repairs to complete reconstruction of the existing building. As a result the project, approved by the Theatre Company, culture figures, architects, etc was selected. The project has included: scientific restoration of audience part of the theater and ultimate reconstruction of stage part with deepening of underground space. In this case the historical appearance of building an architectural monument is reserved.

During the first years of the project implementation thorough study of building, scanning its attitude in space, inspection of its walls and foundations were per- formed. And only in autumn of 2009 after the numerous preparatory works the enormous old building of the Bolshoi Theatre, with dilapidation in certain cases up to 70 percents, was transferred from temporary supports to constant foundation, and grand restoration of the theatre was begun. Record-breaking scope of works on restoration and reconstruction of the theatre were fulfilled within the period. Each day more than three and one-half thousands of professionals with about one thousand restorers among them were working in the building. Besides specialists working on the site about more than thousand specialists were working in remote restoration workshops.

Besides the restoration of historical look and interiors the task to ensure theatre with new spaces was set up before designers. It became possible due to creation of underground space, because of which the building space was doubled.

The other task not least important was connection and integration of strict approach of scientific restoration in the historical zone and installation of the latest technological equipment in the stage part and new spaces of theatre.

The Bolshoi Theatre is restoring in its historical development. Audience hall and the part of its suite have got the look that was planned by Albert Cavos, the architect of the Bolshoi Theatre. The halls of the former emperor lobby are restored as of the state in 1895, when interiors were changed during preparation for coronation celebrations of Emperor Nicholas II. Special projects were created for each recreated or restored element of interior, special documentation on the basis of results of numerous archives and field observations was developed. Rooms of the audience hall suite were restored in 2010, among them: Main en- trance lobby, White lobby, Choral, Round and Beethoven halls. Muscovites could see the restored facades and renovated symbol of the Bolshoi Theatre - famous Apollo quadriga by Klodt P. K .

The Audience hall has regained its initial beauty - brilliancy of the Renaissance mixed with the Byzantine style. And now each spectator of the Bolshoi Theatre may feel himself with the theatergoer of the XIX century, impressed with magnificent and light at the same time decoration. White color, living raspberry-red hangings of boxes interiors covered over with gold, plaster arabesques different at each floor, picturesque ceiling piece “Apollo and muses” gives the Audience hall the look of fairy palace.

Special attention was given to restoration of the legendary acoustics of the Audience hall. Leading company in architectural acoustics of theatre and concert halls “Mu¨ller-BBM” was involved in project. Experts of the company have conducted numerous acoustic researches and were ensuring fulfillment of all technical recommendations. All minute particulars even pat- terns of folds of boxes hangings were subject to agreement with acousticians.

Latest solutions in the field of stage mechanization were implemented to the project. Technological equipment is installed in main building of the Bolshoi Theatre and in the new underground concert- rehearsal hall. Due to these two unique projects the Theatre was provided with possibility to stage latest and complex performances. New mechanics gave carte blanche in the ordinary sense of the word to creativity of directors, artists, musicians, ensured dynamism in performances development and made it possible to change decorations in a few minutes. *

*There is more text available upon request