The Bolshoi – A Glorious National Treasure…

“Le Bolchoï“…

“Fondé en 1780″…

“L’ouverture du tsar des théâtres”…

“Le réveil du.. Bolchoï”…

Raved… “Le Figaro”…

“The re-opening and awakening of the Bolshoi”…

“Ce soir à 20h40 en direct de Moscou”, ARTE the European Arts and Culture channel trasmitted “en direct” from Moscow… the “soirée” of the inauguration of… “le plus célèbre théâtre de Russie”, which has re-opened after six years of monumental, “pharaonic” renovations.

I was glued to the screen… watching with anticipation and jubilation… the magnificent performance unfolding in front of me.

Ever since I witnessed Mikhail Baryshnikov… fly in the air while dancing in an ancient amphitheatre… as well as the magnificent Rudolf Nureyev… I have been totally and completely addicted to the art… that is Ballet.

“En plus”, I have always had a fascination with the old cultures of Russia, China, the Roman and Byzantium empires…

As the plush rich red- velvet curtain… (which has symbolically lost its hammer and sickle)… opened to a newly refurbished stage, we were impressed by the enlarged orchestra pit, fitting up to one hundred and thirty people, one of the grandest and largest in the world, as well as having the most advanced technical facilities…

A most magnificent chandelier was hanging from the opulent ceiling… with splendour…

Huge sums have been spent on this impressive historic institution to regain its former “tsarist glory”.

“Le Président” Dmitri Medvedev… who was personally heavily involved in the renovation project of the Bolshoi, was in attendance in the “Imperial Theatre Box”, as well as affluent Moscovites, dignitaries, and international celebrities… who were bejewelled and resplendent in their fineries.

The second layer of heavy gold curtains opened again to reveal a splendid background of dark midnight-blue, the background to Tchaikovsky’s sublime “Le Lac des cygnes“… which was…

Mythical…

Magical…

Devastatingly beautiful…

The exquisite white “swan”… taking flight… gliding by the lake…

Ethereal… heavenly… divine…

Her dashing Prince… awaiting to take her in his adoring arms…

It was a scene depicting the… possible…

“Perfection of humanity”…

“Human Godliness”…

Tears of the divine… were streaming down my face… due to the breathtaking beauty of its perfection…

Russians… were created for Ballet…

Ballet… was created for Russians…

Its the temperament…

Melancholic… melodramatic… emotional…

Eloquent… elegant…

“Raffiné”…

Monumental discipline…

Total dedication…

Formidable challenge…

“Swan Lake”… came to an end…

There followed a programme featuring all-Russian music, ballet, and opera with performances by Placido Domingo, Natalie Dessay,  Russian opera star Dmitry Hvorostovsky, as well as star dancer Ivan Vasiliev…

Angela Gheorghiu… stunningly beautiful in an off-the-shoulder white gown… with the voice of an angel…

“Maître du grand soir” Dmitri Tcherniakov, the brilliant director of the gala opening evening… as well as Anatoly Iksanov, the theatre’s director, were delighted with the great success of the gala, and artistic director Sergei Filin declared… “my plans are to bring to this stage the best ballet the world has to offer”…

A world-class theatre…

“Le grand Bolchoï”…

Is undoubtadly the pride of Russia…

Glorious…

A triumph…

May it long…

Reign…

a.