What are the most ballet lovers places in Moscow ?
Moscow being the capital of Russia is a cultural city, and if we talk about culture in Russia, it can't exist without ballet.
Ballet is still very well respected and admired, a little bit like football in England.
So, where are the most famous places to learn more about ballet In Moscow ?
Bolshoi Theater, of course !
When you come to Moscow for the first time, without looking for the Bolshoi Theater, you will undoubtedly see it. Located in the center, not so far from the Red Square, you can't miss it. It's not only a theater but a monument by itself, a temple for music, opera and ballet, a unique jewel, giving the city even more beauty.
On March 28, 1776, under the request of Empress Catherine II, the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre was founded.
The building, designed by architect Christian Rosberg, was completed in just five months. Located on Petrovka Street, it was named in consequences ; the Petrovsky Theatre. Opened in 1781, it was destroyed by fire in 1805 and at its place was built another theater called Arbatsky Theatre, by the famous architect Karl Rossi.
Unfortunately, made of wood, this building was one of the first to burn down during the great Moscow fire of 1812 that led the Napoleonic army occupation.
In 1819, a competition was made for the design of a new theater building, and the winner was Andrei Mikhailov, professor of the Academy of Arts, his project was corrected by Osip Bové. The grand opening of the new Petrovsky Theatre took place on January 18, 1825 ; it was distinguished by its monumental grandeur, proportionality, harmony of architectural forms and rich interior decoration.
The building of the Bolshoi Petrovsky Theatre existed for almost thirty years. But it also suffered the same sad fate: on March 11, 1853, a fire broke out in the theater, which lasted three days and destroyed everything it could.
This time, the chief architect of the imperial theaters Alberto Cavos, Professor of Saint-Petersburg Academy of Arts, won the theater reconstruction competition.
The Bolshoi Theatre, practically built anew, opened its doors on 20 August 1856 with the opera Puritani by V. Bellini. The new theater could accommodate almost, 2300 guests and welcomed a chandelier, lit by three hundred oil lamps.
From the very beginning of the theater's existence, it was both a cultural and social center : not only were performances given here, but also public lectures, concerts, masquerades and balls, for the people's pleasure and amusement.
These traditions remained and only grown from the middle of the nineteenth century to nowadays, welcoming the most famous compositor and choreographers. It became a symbol of the Russian culture at its highest level and one of the jewels of the Russian capital.
If you come to Moscow, you must stop to watch a performance at The Bolshoi theater, or at least go to visit it, there are tickets for exhibition tour.
Memorial to Maya Plisetskaya
The monument to Maya Plisetskaya is a work of sculptor Viktor Mitroshin on the initiative of Maya Plisetskaya’s husband, Rodion Shchedrin.
It captures the great ballerina during a single, expressive moment in her famous performance of Carmen.
Located between houses 6 and 12 on Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, a green corner she used to love very much during her lifetime, the opening took place on November 20, 2016, for her 90th anniversary, unfortunately she left a few months before.
In 2013, Eduardo Cobra, a Brazilian artist, created graffiti on the demolished side wall of neighboring house No. 16 with the image of Maya Plisetskaya as Odette from the ballet “Swan Lake ". It was part of the Moscow Street art festival.
Nowadays, the sculpture and the graffiti stand next to each others, creating a place of true memory of the grandiose ballerina Maya Plisetskaya.
Museum-apartment Maia Plisetskaya:
Plisetskaya and Shchedrin moved here in 1963 and lived here until the 1990s, when Maya Mikhailovna had to leave the Bolshoi Theater, by request of Yuri Grigorovich, who wanted to give way to the young.
Before that, from 1938 to 1958 she lived in the communal house next to the Bolshoi Theater. The offended ballerina and her husband moved to Lithuania, and then to Munich. Maya Mikhailovna called the Moscow apartment “our third home”, although this is not very fair, since they lived there most of their life.
It was here, where Plisetskaya came up with the image of her Carmen and created ballets, which were then staged at the Bolshoi Theater.
The apartment is located in a cooperative prestige house, built after the Second World War, and was bought with Maia's own money.
It includes a bedroom, the cabinet Shchedrin, a dressing room with many cupboards, and a kitchen all around the living -dining room which is the center of the flat.
Plisetskaya did not use the living room, the round table, or the beautiful dishes from the cabinets : all friends were received in the modest kitchen with green refrigerator.
In the entrance, there are two big mirrors, Maia was giving big attention to her appearance and these mirrors allow seeing oneself from all angles.
In the ballerina's bedroom hangs a beautiful carpet by French artist Fernand Léger, a portrait of her by Arthur Fonvizin, on the dressing table Plisetskaya’s favorite perfume, Robert Piguet Bandit. According to friends, she remained faithful to this scent all her life and proudly stated: “My favorite perfume is called “Bandit.”
As a big surprise, there is no ballet barre in the flat, Maia never trained there.
A few important facts about Maia :
On 1 April 1943, joined the troupe of the Bolshoi theater, her first role as a soloist was pas de trois from Swan Lake.
Her first ballet as main soloist was in 1947, Raymonda.
Danced more than 800 times Swan Lake.
Became Prima Ballerina Assoluta only when Oulanova left the theater in 1960.
Danced Myrta when Oulanova was Giselle.
They met with Shchedrin during her most difficult time, during the creation of Konek Gorbunok, got married in 1958, it was her second husband.
Her favorite couturier was Pierre Cardin. He created all the costumes of Anna Karenina for her.
In her wardrobe, you can find in a suitcase two paintings of Marc Chagall.
Carmen ballet in 1973 was a scandalous moment in her career.
Plisetskaya’s motto “don’t eat” is still famous today.
The museum tried to leave everything as it was under the owners, without any renovation, as it was wished by Shchedrin when Maya Mikhailovna passed away in April 2015. “After death, our bodies will be burned, and when the sad hour of death comes for the one of us who lived longer, or in the event of our simultaneous death, both of our ashes will be united together and scattered over Russia.”
We can still feel today Maia's presence in the flat, as if she never left. It's a beautiful place, full of memories, full of a lifetime.
Museum Apartment Galina Oulanova
Born in Petersburg in a family of Mariinsky Theatre ballet dancers in 1910 (8th of January), Galina Oulanova trained at the Vaganova Ballet Academy (previously Mariinsky Theatre Choreographic College) for six years under her mother's teaching and three years under Agrippina Vaganova's teaching.
She graduated in 1928 and joined the Leningrad Theatre of Opera and Ballet as a soloist under the artistic direction of Fyodor Lopukhov.
Her first main part was Odette and Odile, from the ballet “Swan Lake” in 1929 at the Mariinsky Theater and Maria, from “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai” at the Bolshoi Theater in 1944.
Even at the beginning of Ulanova’s work, critics wrote about the complete unity in her performance of dance technique, dramatic play and plasticity.
Ulanova won a worldwide recognition took part in tours abroad and gained a world fame on her first tour of the Bolshoi Theatre to Great Britain in 1956 and the USA in 1959, where she played the roles of Juliet and Giselle.
No matter how much I will try to talk about Ulanova's dance and life, words won't be able to express what she created in the artistic world, in ballet, and how she reinvented and transformed ballet in the 20the century. Just reading how many genius personalities talked about her, she seems to be more than human. She represents an epoch, a time. She has her own hallmark. Like Mozart, Beethoven and Prokofiev she has had an impact, she has reflected her age.
INSPIRATIONAL LETTERS
Dear, wonderful Galya, Goddess!
I kiss you and embrace you.
Alexei TolstoyThe architecture of ancient temples, the perfect balance and harmony of all elements. Yvette Chauvire
She managed to combine feelings and their external expression into one invisible whole. Maurice Bejart
I recognized her as a Prophet. Galina Ulanova embodied a very real and infinite idea, the idea of radiant love, which exists, regardless of us, for all time Carla Fracci
It was this unforgettable image of a woman, transparent in her tangible spirituality, that inspired and guided me to my own creative quest. John Neumeir
No matter what Ulanova danced, she was always Russian, it was Russian charm, Russian shyness, Russian spiritual power, Russian “melancholy”. Perhaps that is why she is our national pride. Nina Timofeeva
Oulanova is Raphael with the soul of Michelangelo. Nikolai Benois
Unfortunately, when I went to Moscow, the museum was under reconstruction, so I could not visit it, but I hope as soon as it will be available to the public I will visit it and share this place with you.
I have the impression that this place is a living historical witness.
I hope you enjoy this small travel into Moscow ballet world.
Vivons,
Rêvons,
Dansons !
