New Stage

On March 28 (March 17 Old Style), 1776, Catherine II granted Prosecutor Prince Pyotr Urusov a privilege to organize performances, masquerades, balls, and other entertainment for a period of ten years. This date is considered the founding day of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre. The Bolshoi building, which for many years has been perceived by everyone as one of the main landmarks of Moscow, opened on August 20, 1856, during the coronation of Alexander II. On October 29, 2002, the theater troupe received the New Stage, where its activities took place during the years of the large-scale reconstruction of the historical building. This reconstruction lasted from July 1, 2005, to October 28, 2011. It restored many lost features of the famous building's historical appearance while simultaneously making it one of the most technically advanced theater buildings in the world. The Bolshoi Theatre is an enduring symbol of Russia for all time. It earned this honorary role through the significant contribution it made to the history of Russian art. The history continues—and many bright pages in it are still being written by the artists of the Bolshoi Theatre.