Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater is the most important theatre in Novosibirsk and Siberia. It was completed in February, 1944, the first performance being held on May 12th, 1945. It is the largest theater in Russia (larger than the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow!). Located in downtown Novosibirsk, on Lenin Square, it is the symbol of the city. After its renovation in 2005, its computerized stage equipment became the most technically advanced in Russia.
The theater’s building can be divided into several parts: its ticket offices and vestibule, theater hall, lobby, administrative rooms, rehearsal halls, wardrobes, storage rooms, etc.
The total area of the building is 11,837 m2, the volume is 294,340 m3.
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The theater’s grand hall seats 1,774 spectators while before the reconstruction it seated 2,000.
This ceiling is some sort of an acoustic screen made of pressed cardboard. The hall is believed to be one of the most difficult to perform at (the singer has to “shake” 35.5 tons of air).
They installed 16 sculptures between the columns of the grand hall. Those are copies of well-known antique Greek sculptures.
This crystal chandelier boasts 472 lamps. It’s 6 m in diameter and has a weight of 2 tons!
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They clean the chandelier once every six months. They have to vacuum it by hand. Each lamp has to be cleaned separately. When they put the chandelier on the floor, it occupies half the space of the hall.
The theater is equipped with a 32-ton fire-prevention curtain. It take them just 30 seconds to separate the stage from the auditorium.
The foyer on the second floor.
One of its staircases.
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There is a coatroom in the foyer on the main floor. At least six coatroom attendants serve peope coming to enjoy a performance.
The teather’s small concert hall seats 460 persons. It is also intended for performances for children.
A sound technician.
Musicians carry out their rehearsals in this room located on the fourth floor.
The principal construction of the theatre’s building is its big dome, 60 m wide and 35 m high. The dome is a unique construction that supports itself without girders or columns. The ratio of its thickness (an average of 8 cm) to its radius is less than that of a chicken egg.
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The dome is covered with millions of silvery scales.
Inside the dome.
In the center of this room you can see ropes holding the chandelier.
In the pump room.
Its basement. In 2005, they dismantled the rails used to deliver coal into the theater’s furnace room.
The orchestra pit’s area is 150 m2 which makes it the largest in Europe.
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Preparing for Carmen.
About 800 people have to work to stage a play.
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Altitude: 29 m.
With this panel, they control lighting and setting.
All kinds of illuminators.
