Home to the famed Bolshoi Ballet Company, Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre stages world-class opera and ballet in ornate surroundings. Dominating the city centre's Teatralnaya Square, the magnificent 2000-seat auditorium is adorned with a massive eight-column portico topped by Apollo's statue.
The theatre itself dates back to 1776, when British showman Michael Maddox's company founded the city's first permanent theatre. In 1806 it was taken over by the imperial government, and the ballet company flourished.
In the early post-Soviet years the theatre suffered from a lack of investment and it was closed for major refurbishment in 2005. An equally sumptuous replacement stage (the "new stage") was constructed immediately next door to host the Bolshoi's productions during the renovation. In this way visitors can still enjoy the full splendour of Moscow's ballet and opera.