Entertainment in Moscow

Opera and Ballet Houses

Bolshoi Theater

Photo by Ciroja on Pixabay 

Lovers of opera and ballet will find themselves in heaven when visiting Moscow. The jewel in the crown of its theatres is undoubtedly the Bolshoi Theatre, Russia’s national theatre which has had an astounding influence on the history and development of Russian performing arts. The Bolshoi is renowned across the globe for its world-class performances, mostly classics but also premieres commissioned specially for the theatre. Another highlight is the Kolobov New Opera Theatre, founded by then-mayor Yuri Luzhkov and conductor Evgeny Kolobov. The New Opera’s repertoire primarily consists of classical operas such as those by Verdi, Rimsky-Korsakov, Strauss, Mozart, Wagner, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky.

Discover Moscow’s other opera and ballet houses here.

Drama Theatres

Gorky Moscow Artistic Theater

Photo by Express To Russia Staff

Home to more than 50 drama theatres, Moscow is the drama capital of Russia and the perfect place to experience the magic and variety of Russian theatre. Enjoy performances at the Maly Theatre, one of the oldest in the country with a repertoire of Russian literary classics by Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol and Anton Chekhov alongside modern premieres; the Chekhov Moscow Artistic Academic Theatre which was founded by directors Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and still embodies their dramatic innovations today; or the Taganka theatre, a stronghold of free thinking during Khrushchev’s Thaw which showcases unusual and creatively choreographed performances.

Read more about Moscow’s drama theatres here.

Classical Concert Halls

Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory

Photo by Photobank Lori

The beauty of Russian classical music is known all over the world, and where better to enjoy a performance than in one of Moscow’s many classical concert halls? At the Great Hall at the Moscow State Conservatory the programme includes performances of Glinka, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and Beethoven, Sibelius and Shostakovich by the Russian National Orchestra. At the Rachmaninov Concert Hall at the Philharmonia-2, you can watch performances by chamber and symphony orchestras, the Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra, children’s concerts and musical theatre. Another highlight is the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, where you can listen to the Russian Orthodox Church choir, Moscow Jazz Orchestra, and the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Discover Moscow’s classical concert halls here.

Concert Halls

DK im. GORBUNOVA

Photo by Express To Russia Staff

For something a little more contemporary, Moscow has plenty of concert halls where you can listen to modern Russian and foreign music. Why not try the Gorbunov Palace of Culture, best known for its rock concerts, where famous bands and musicians such as DDT and Boris Grebenshchikov have performed; head to the Tsentralny Dom Khudozhnika (TsDKh, Central House of Artists), where you can combine a performance at the concert hall with a visit to the New Tretyakov Gallery; or alternatively book tickets for the Izvestiya Hall, where Russian and international bands and DJs perform at concerts and festivals.  Taking in a concert during your Russian tour will make your time in the country even more memorable.

You can learn about these concert halls and others here.

Cinemas

Pioner Cinema

Photo by Express To Russia Staff

Moscow is the nucleus of Russian cinema: the country’s first film was made at the Kremlin, documenting Nicholas II’s coronation, and Mosfilm was founded in 1920 and produced most of the Soviet Union’s best known films – including those by Tarkovsky and Eisenstein. Befitting its cinematic history, Moscow is home to over 120 cinemas. As well as chain cinemas like Karo, Kino and Moskino where you can watch Russian and international blockbusters, there are unique independent cinemas: the luxuriously-decorated movie theatre in GUM on Red Square, screening foreign films in their original language to be enjoyed with a glass of champagne; the city’s oldest cinema, Khudozhestvenny Electro Theatre, which has just undergone a spectacular 7-year renovation; the Documentary Film Centre which screens documentaries as well as fiction films; and Pioner, where you can watch original language foreign films, visit the bookshop, and grab a meal and glass of wine in the café.

Click here for more information about Moscow’s cinemas.

Circuses

State Big Circus

Photo by Photobank

If you’re looking for more unusual entertainment, then you may be interested in Moscow’s circuses. Currently there are two circuses in the city: the Great Moscow State Circus and the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The Great Circus is the largest in the city and offers performances from their permanent repertoire as well as seasonal shows. The Nikulin Circus is the oldest in the city and is named after Yuri Nikulin (a famous actor and a clown at this circus for 30 years, who later became its director). Russia is one of the few countries where wild animals are still used in circus performances, although this has drawn a lot of attention from animal rights groups over recent years and can be shocking to foreign tourists.

Learn more about Moscow’s two circuses here.

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