We spent a wonderful Saturday in Moscow at the Ballet. It wouldn't be my first choice for entertainment, but it was our chance to see the legendary Opera/Ballet company in their home country.
The above photo is not of the actual Bolshoi Theater - it is a replica as you can tell by my ghost lurking in the glass reflection. We did not get into the actual Bolshoi either as it is currently under construction. Our show was in the New Bolshoi Theater.
La Fille Mal Garde
The production was a French Ballet titled La Fille Mal Garde, which judging by what happens in the show must means "the Girl Gets Around." If you want what is likely a more accurate description check here for the wiki-synopsis and a pretty involved history.
I enjoyed seeing the ballet done by a professional company - We were in the cheap seats (quite literally at 20 rubles/person - that's well under a buck folks) but you could make out the dancers pretty well. The theater wraps around a good bit so occasionally we would get screened from the action if the characters were off to one side or the other. There was a pretty large orchestra in the pit, which as far as I could tell was not amplified and still sounded great from where we were sitting. The story was easy enough to follow and since there was no script I didn't have to interpret any Russian or French.
Language Lesson
Bolshoi literally means "Big." The Bolshoi Theater is the Big Theater. It stands next to the Mali Theater and Mali means "small." The Mali theater is actually a few years older than the Bolshoi, but not as well known simply because it is not the Big Theater.
The Bolshoi is within easy walking distance of the Kremlin and like any large city Moscow has its issues. One night while walking on the street adjacent to the Bolshoi we came across and elderly woman peeing in the street - City Life is Grand.
Oddity
When Russians clap during the performance they clap in unison. Generally this starts as chaotic clapping which filters into a rhythm and all of the sudden everyone is clapping at the same time along with occasional shouts of "Bravo"
Branding
On the opposing metro escalator a woman! was spotted wearing a red Yankees knit cap. Later in the Day I also spotted a Solchi 2014 (Winter Olympics to be Held in Russia) knit cap.
New York Yankees 5
Boston Celtics 1
Elliot Sadler 1
Atlanta Braves 1
Chicago Bulls 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 1
NHL 1
Solchi 2014
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