Reason 23 of why I love my job and Moscow: Getting to go on tours that tourists don't get the chance to! I was lucky enough to go on a tour with the BWC to the Bolshoi workshops, where all the sets, costumes etc are made. Unlike Covent Garden, the workshop is in a different location and it is a massive building.
The guide who took us around has been involved with the Bolshoi for a long time and you could tell she was very proud to be showing us around. First stop was where the sets were painted. This is a massive floor space which is laid out like a grid. The painters have a small version of the backdrop/wings and it is amazing how they manage to paint it on such a large gauze/canvas! We saw backdrops from 'The Entrantress', A bit from Swan Lake which was being restored and the favourite of mine, a piece of the wings from the ballet 'Ivan The Terrible'. The artist was doing it from a photograph of the original designs by Simon Virsaladze. A bit of a heads up, as the Bolshoi ballet will be performing it sometime soon. It hasn't been preformed in 20 years at the Bolshoi. I am going to try to get tickets for it!
A birds eye view of the room, unchanged since it was opened.
the original painting of the backdrop for 'The Entrantress'.
A wing from 'Ivan The Terrible'
Next stop was my favourite part of the tour, the costume and fittings rooms for the ladies. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures in the sewing room which was a real shame as there were gorgeous Swan Lake tutus hanging up and also the tutus from Le Corsaire. We also got to see the costumes for the new production of Der Rosenkavalier and my were those pannierd dresses wide but I guess on the stage they will look in proportion. It was interesting to see the tailor dummies which were made specific to the dancers and singers.
The fitting room more than made up for not being able to take pictures in the sewing room. You go in and there is a beautiful mirror in the corner and this mirror has been used since the 19th century and it sends s shiver down your spine when you think how many famous ballerinas have stood there. We got to see two tutus from the new production of Le Corsaire. The tutus were slightly longer and the bead work was delicate. The costumes from Don Quioxte were vibrant and they were restoring one of the costumes from an old production.
Le Corsaire
Don Quixote new and old costumes
As if the tour couldn't get any better, it did!! We were shown to this large room which was partioned off and there looking like Father Christmas's worse off brother was the man who made the point shoes for the ballerinas. I didn't catch his name but he has been there over 20 years. He gave us a demonstration of the different stages and we saw him making a shoe. His work area was very chaotic but he knew where everything was.
Ready to go in the kiln!
Finally as an extra treat we were shown the printing room where all the posters are printed. At the end of this month the old presses will be retired and it will all be done on computer. The press has been there from 1905 and we were all lucky enough to be given our own bit of Bolshoi memorabilia which was a poster showing what's on.
The guide who took us around has been involved with the Bolshoi for a long time and you could tell she was very proud to be showing us around. First stop was where the sets were painted. This is a massive floor space which is laid out like a grid. The painters have a small version of the backdrop/wings and it is amazing how they manage to paint it on such a large gauze/canvas! We saw backdrops from 'The Entrantress', A bit from Swan Lake which was being restored and the favourite of mine, a piece of the wings from the ballet 'Ivan The Terrible'. The artist was doing it from a photograph of the original designs by Simon Virsaladze. A bit of a heads up, as the Bolshoi ballet will be performing it sometime soon. It hasn't been preformed in 20 years at the Bolshoi. I am going to try to get tickets for it!
Next stop was my favourite part of the tour, the costume and fittings rooms for the ladies. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures in the sewing room which was a real shame as there were gorgeous Swan Lake tutus hanging up and also the tutus from Le Corsaire. We also got to see the costumes for the new production of Der Rosenkavalier and my were those pannierd dresses wide but I guess on the stage they will look in proportion. It was interesting to see the tailor dummies which were made specific to the dancers and singers.
The fitting room more than made up for not being able to take pictures in the sewing room. You go in and there is a beautiful mirror in the corner and this mirror has been used since the 19th century and it sends s shiver down your spine when you think how many famous ballerinas have stood there. We got to see two tutus from the new production of Le Corsaire. The tutus were slightly longer and the bead work was delicate. The costumes from Don Quioxte were vibrant and they were restoring one of the costumes from an old production.
Le Corsaire
Don Quixote new and old costumes
As if the tour couldn't get any better, it did!! We were shown to this large room which was partioned off and there looking like Father Christmas's worse off brother was the man who made the point shoes for the ballerinas. I didn't catch his name but he has been there over 20 years. He gave us a demonstration of the different stages and we saw him making a shoe. His work area was very chaotic but he knew where everything was.
Finally as an extra treat we were shown the printing room where all the posters are printed. At the end of this month the old presses will be retired and it will all be done on computer. The press has been there from 1905 and we were all lucky enough to be given our own bit of Bolshoi memorabilia which was a poster showing what's on.
So all in all an amazing tour and I am now looking forward to going to see Swan Lake on the 17th March.
The mirror in the fitting room.
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