Evgeniya Raspopova

Review of summercamp (the Bolshoi theate...

Bolshoi theatre is the most famous Russian theatre...

Bolshoi theatre is the most famous Russian theatre. Not the best of course, but the most prominent.
Flamboyant interior decorations in red and gold colours, grandiose chandelier at the historical scene, some rooms looking like a museum expositions: everything is screaming "Luxury!"
The tickets are usually around 7000 rubs up to 15000 (Historical stage), but I got one for a special price of 2000 rubs. It was at the highest - 4th level - but in a 1st raw and in the center, so the stage was visible perfectly. My level was in the 7th floor (there's an elevator) so I took a strong binocular, the usual "theatre" one won't help you much at this distance.
Very convenient system of having it's own dressing room and buffet for each 2 levels avoids the crowd between and after the shows.
The minus: Bolshoi theatre does NOT accept credit cards inside!! You have to pay cash for drinks/food and printed programs! This is very inconvenient! Especially considering the fact that a glass of champagne costs around a price of full bottle - 500 rubs.
When buying a ticket online you have to insert you passport data and one person can't buy more than 2 tickets. Then you have to personally come and retrieve the ticket from ticket office, that located not in a Bolshoi theatre itself, but across the road, at RAMT. You have to show a passport and A CREDIT CARD that you used while buying the ticket! That is silly considering the fact that they do not accept credit cards in the theatre...
Also the cashier lady and guards were speaking rather rude and spoiled the first impression from the most famous Russian theatre.
I watched the opera Queen of Spades and it was average, lead singers were nondescript, decorations were simple as well as costumes.
I was more impressed by the theatre itself then by the performance.
I think you should visit this place to feel the atmosphere and see the magnificence of the building in the 1st place, and only then for the spectacular itself.