The Bolshoi is currently closed for the next several years for renovation, and performances are now at the new stage just to the left of the old Bolshoi and up a couple of flights of stairs. Although the new stage is smaller, the performances are the same.
One of the most famous theaters in the world, and rightly so. Inside the pink colonnaded hall, the Bolshoi company stages some of the world's most celebrated operas and ballets (though its ballet company has been eclipsed in recent years by the Kirov in St. Petersburg). Try to get to one of the performances during your visit, but be aware that tickets for Swan Lake are always hard to come by, and probably not worth it if you are a serious ballet connoisseur—most of the audience will be tourists.
Note: Ticket scalpers stand outside the Bolshoi every evening pushing tickets on unwary tourists. Some do offer reasonable deals, and if a performance is sold out, a high price may be worth it to you. But a common scam is selling standing-room or restricted-view tickets for exorbitant prices. Beware—and keep in mind that the real cost is printed on each ticket in large type, so you can see how much the markup is. Season runs September-June. The ticket office is open noon-3 pm and 5-7 pm. Tickets cost 200 rubles-3,000 rubles, depending on the performance and the seat. Teatralnaya Ploshchad 1, Moscow. Phone 495-292-9986. http://www.bolshoi.ru.
