The Bolshoi Theatre

The world famous Bolshoi Theatre has just reopened after a $700 million restoration and let’s be honest, it looks beautiful.

1 A combination photograph shows the facade of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre during restoration April 

2, 2010 (top) and before the official reopening October 24, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theatre reopens o

n October 28, 2011 with a ceremony bearing many of the hallmarks of a state event after a more than

six-year, $700-million renovation dogged by concerns over missing funds and accusations of corruption.

2 A combination photograph shows the dress circle in Moscow's Boklshoi theatre during restoration 

November 13, 2008 (top) and before the official reopening October 24, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theatre 

reopens on October 28, 2011 with a ceremony bearing many of the hallmarks of a state event after a 

more than six-year, $700-million renovation dogged by concerns over missing funds and accusations 

of corruption.

3 A combination photograph shows the foyer in Moscow's Bolshoi theatre during restoration on January 

31, 2008 (top) and before the official reopening on October 24, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theatre reopens 

on October 28, 2011 with a ceremony bearing many of the hallmarks of a state event after a more than

six-year, $700-million renovation dogged by concerns over missing funds and accusations of corruption. 

4 A worker uses a buzz saw during construction works in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow January 31, 2008. 

Emergency work to shore up the crumbling walls of Russia's most famous performance hall has saved the 

Bolshoi Theatre from collapse but delayed its reopening until next year, officials said on Thursday. 

5 A specialist works on the finishing of the ceiling of the main hall in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow March

1, 2011. After several years of closure for renovation the main stage of the world famous ballet theatre is 

preparing to open its doors to the public once again.

6 A security guard stands inside the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow July 22, 2011. After years of closure for 

renovation, the main stage of the world famous ballet theatre will open its doors to the public at the end of 

October. 

7 Journalists observe the main hall at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow July 22, 2011. After years of closure 

for renovation, the main stage of the world famous ballet theatre will open its doors to the public at the end 

of October. 

8 Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev (R) visits the Bolshoi Theatre to mark its re-opening after years 

of reconstruction in Moscow September 20, 2011. 

9 A view of the reconstructed Bolshoi Theatre on the eve of its reopening in central Moscow October 

27, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopens on Friday with a star-studded gala performance after a more 

than six-year, $700-million restoration dogged by delays and financial scandal to reclaim its place as one 

of the world's cultural jewels.

10 A view of the reconstructed Bolshoi Theatre on the eve of its reopening in central Moscow October 

27, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopens on Friday with a star-studded gala performance after a more 

than six-year, $700-million restoration dogged by delays and financial scandal to reclaim its place as one 

of the world's cultural jewels.

11 A view of the reconstructed Bolshoi Theatre on the eve of its reopening in central Moscow October 

27, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopens on Friday with a star-studded gala performance after a more

than six-year, $700-million restoration dogged by delays and financial scandal to reclaim its place as one 

of the world's cultural jewels.

12 People look at the illuminated Bolshoi Theatre on the eve of its reopening in central Moscow October 

27, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopens on Friday with a star-studded gala performance after a more 

than six-year, $700-million restoration dogged by delays and financial scandal to reclaim its place as one 

of the world's cultural jewels. Picture taken October 27, 2011. 

13 People look at the illuminated Bolshoi Theatre on the eve of its reopening in central Moscow October

27, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopens on Friday with a star-studded gala performance after a more 

than six-year, $700-million restoration dogged by delays and financial scandal to reclaim its place as one 

of the world's cultural jewels. Picture taken October 27, 2011. 

14 An honour guard stands in front of the Bolshoi Theater during its reopening ceremony in Moscow, 

October 28, 2011. Russia's Bolshoi Theater reopened on Friday with a star-studded gala performance 

after a more than six-year, $700-million restoration dogged by delays and financial scandal to reclaim its 

place as one of the world's cultural jewels.

15 A worker cleans the newly refurbished main hall of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre October 24, 2011. 

Moscow's most famous theatre is set to reopen with a gala performance on Friday after six years of 

closure for renovation.

16 A visitor takes photographs of the ceiling inside the main hall of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre October 

24, 2011. Moscow's historic theatre is set to reopen with a gala performance on Friday after six years 

of closure for renovation.

17 A visitor takes photographs of the ceiling inside the main hall of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre October 24, 

2011. Moscow's historic theatre is set to reopen with a gala performance on Friday after six years of closure

for renovation.

18 Visitors walk in the newly refurbished foyer of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre October 24, 2011. Moscow's 

historic theatre is set to reopen with a gala performance on Friday after six years of closure for renovation.

19 Visitors walk in the main hall of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre October 24, 2011. Moscow's most famous 

theatre is set to open with a gala performance on Friday, following a six year closure for renovation.

20 A general view of the foyer of Moscow's Bolshoi theatre October 24, 2011. Moscow's historic theatre 

is set to reopen with a gala performance on Friday after six years of closure for renovation.

21 Actors perform during a final dress rehearsal on the main stage at the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow 

October 31, 2011. Nudity, video, puppets and an ultra-modern twist on Mikhail Glinka's folkloric romantic

opera Ruslan and Lyudmila will be the first full production to grace the stage of Russia's newly renovated

Bolshoi theater. Picture taken October 31, 2011.

22 Actors perform during a final dress rehearsal on the main stage at the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow 

October 31, 2011. Nudity, video, puppets and an ultra-modern twist on Mikhail Glinka's folkloric romantic

opera Ruslan and Lyudmila will be the first full production to grace the stage of Russia's newly renovated 

Bolshoi theater. Picture taken October 31, 2011.

23 Actors perform during a final dress rehearsal on the main stage at the Bolshoi theatre in Moscow 

October 31, 2011. Nudity, video, puppets and an ultra-modern twist on Mikhail Glinka's folkloric romantic

opera Ruslan and Lyudmila will be the first full production to grace the stage of Russia's newly renovated 

Bolshoi theater. Picture taken October 31, 2011.

24 Bolshoi ballerinas Svetlana Zakharova (L) and Maria Volodina perform in the dress rehearsal of 

Cinderella at the Royal Opera House in London on August 7, 2006.

25 Bolshoi ballerina Yelena Andrienko dances during a performance of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake with the

State Classic Ballet Theatre of Russia at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, April 19, 2007. 

The ballet runs until April 23.

26 Anette Delgado, a Cuban National Ballet ballerina, looks out of a dressing room before the Cuban 

National Ballet Gala concert at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, August 2, 2011. Cuban ballet dancers 

performed several pieces from Coppelia, The Swan Lake, Don Quixote in honor of Alicia Alonso, Cuba's 

prima ballerina assoluta and director of the Cuban National Ballet.

27 Conductor Vladimir Yurovsky directs the orchestra during a final dress rehearsal on the main stage at the 

Bolshoi theatre in Moscow October 31, 2011. Nudity, video, puppets and an ultra-modern twist on Mikhail 

Glinka's folkloric romantic opera Ruslan and Lyudmila will be the first full production to grace the stage of 

Russia's newly renovated Bolshoi theater. Picture taken October 31, 2011.