Bolshoi Theatre
Grand nineteenth-century opera and ballet house rebuilt after a devastating fire, crowned by a bronze quadriga of Apollo.
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About this audio guide
This guide to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow opens on the night of March 11, 1853, when a fire traced to a closet backstage tore through the building for three days, leaving little standing but the stone portico. It follows Tsar Alexander the Second's push for a triumphant replacement in time for his coronation, and architect Alberto Cavos's fast rebuild, crowned by a new bronze quadriga of Apollo cast by the sculptor Pyotr Klodt. Look up at the great chandelier as you enter, its thousands of crystal pendants still cleaned by hand once a year.
This audio guide was created using AI.
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