- Title: RUSSIA: Legendary Bolshoi Theatre undergoes complete restoration
- Date: 12th December 2010
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 2, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF BOLSHOI THEATRE (2 SHOTS) SCAFFOLDING NEAR BOLSHOI ROOF VARIOUS OF WORKERS CARRYING BUILDING SUPPLIES VARIOUS OF RESTORERS APPLYING GOLD LEAF TO CHANDELIER PARTS ARTIST APPLYING GOLD LEAF TO CHERUB GOLDEN CHERUB FACE ARTIST APPLYING GOLD LEAF BOLSHOI THEATRE RENOVATION CONTRACTOR MIKHAIL SEDEROV TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BOLSHOI THEATRE RENOVATION CONTRACTOR, MIKHAIL SEDEROV, SAYING: "It contains several thousand brass parts, and more that 15,000 crystal pendants and has never been fully restored but now we're finishing work on the full restoration to the way it used to be in the 19th century." GOLD LEAF ON CUTTING BOARD VARIOUS OF ARTIST WORKING WITH GOLD LEAF VARIOUS OF CHANDELIER PARTS LAID OUT ON RED CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BOLSHOI RESTORATION WORKER, IRINA CHUPANOVA ,SAYING: "It is hard to say how much (gold) was used. I know that more gold will be used on the current restoration, because the whole restoration is aimed at restoring the lost details and elements according archive documents. For that reason I think there will be more gold used." CHANDELIER PART IN CHUPANOVA'S HANDS VARIOUS OF CHANDELIER PARTS AND PRIMER CHANDELIER FRAME WOMEN APPLYING GOLF LEAF TO WALLS GOLD LEAF WOMEN APPLYING GOLF LEAF TO WALLS MAN CARRYING BUILDING MATERIALS UP STAIRS SCAFFOLDING AND EXPOSED WOODEN ROOF WOMAN ON SCAFFOLDING WORKING ON PLASTER VARIOUS OF WORKERS SANDING STAIRS
- Embargoed: 27th December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVADOJEN3V711S4DAWGOLWCN0GUS
- Story Text: Restoration work continues at Moscow's world-famous Bolshoi Theatre, where this week specialist staff began applying layers of gold leaf to the building's interior.
The restoration project has been going on for five years and aims to return the opera and ballet theatre and its foyers to their 19th century classical splendour.
Project chief Mikhail Sedorov faces a daunting task, as he explains this is the first time the theatre has been so meticulously restored.
Repairing the theatre's chandelier, which hangs high over the stalls and dims to signal the start of a performance, is a particularly painstaking process, he told journalists on Thursday (December 2).
"It contains several thousand brass parts, and more that 15,000 crystal pendants and has never been fully restored, but now we're finishing work on the full restoration to the way it used to be in the 19th century," Siderov said.
A team of restoration artists work with delicate sheets of gold leaf, applying them to the chandelier frame. Gold leaf will also be used to cover the relief decorations on the Bolshoi's ornate walls.
Restorer Irina Chupanova says the team is basing the restoration on archive documents. She estimates that they will need more gold leaf than the theatre had before the current restoration project.
"It is hard to say how much (gold) was used. I know that more gold will be used on the current restoration, because the whole restoration is aimed at restoring the lost details and elements according archive documents. For that reason I think there will be more gold used," said Chupanova.
The first stage of restoration is due to be completed before next autumn 2011 when the Bolshoi Theatre begins rehearsals before opening the main stage. The main stage should reopen on October 2, 2011.
The 1-billion U.S. dollars project to rebuild the theatre's main stage, which was built in 1825, was launched in 2005 and was initially due to be completed in 2008. But the reconstruction has been marred by repeated schedule delays and allegations that millions of roubles destined for the renovation were stolen.
Official probes launched into cost overruns and delays have pushed the completion date back by three years, forcing the theatre to use a cramped, temporary home nearby, for much longer than planned. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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