Thu 22 July 2010
Exhibition
Evgeny Onegin on the Operatic Stage
Treasures of the Bolshoi Museum

Exhibition open 22 July – 12 August 2010, Mon – Fri, 16:00 – 19:00

The Museum of the Bolshoi Theatre is a treasure trove of opera and ballet history, but one whose doors are not open to the public. An exhibition of items from the Museum, which have hardly ever been seen before, will be held at Pushkin House during the Bolshoi Theatre’s summer residence at the Royal Opera House.

The Masterpieces of the Bolshoi Theatre Museum

The Bolshoi Theatre Museum is one of the jewels in Russia’s cultural crown. Its collection, which is based on material relating to the Bolshoi’s productions, dates back to the 1830’s. The Museum was officially founded in 1918 by stage designer Fyodor Fyodorovsky, with the purpose to collect and study everything relating to the creative world of the Bolshoi. The collection, numbering over two hundred thousand items, includes paintings, drawings, portraits, photographs, negatives, manuscripts, programmes, theatre memorabilia, props, and costumes.

Since its inception in 1776, the Bolshoi Theatre has been at the centre of Russian cultural life; the place to see art at the forefront of innovation and excellence, and to be seen in society. From the 18th century through to the Soviet era, the Bolshoi Theatre was a symbol of Russian prestige and the most eminent and celebrated exhibitor of Russian artistry. The collection of the Bolshoi Theatre Museum today is unique in its scope and wealth of materials, encompassing not only the history of ballet and opera, but also offering an unsurpassed insight into Russian history and culture.

There is no permanent exhibition of the thousands of priceless items in the Museum, which are housed in an archive closed to visitors. This exhibition would open up this unique creative world to the public, and provide a Western audience with unparalleled access to the collection which has never been seen, not even in Russia. In July 2005, the main stage of the Bolshoi Theatre was closed for a four year renovation programme. This exhibition would come at an important juncture in the Theatre’s history; whilst it undergoes restructuring, the cultural gems of the Bolshoi would be on display to the public.

The Bolshoi Theatre is renowned around the world, yet its inner workings and history remain shrouded in mystery. Behind the beauty and elegance of the ballet and opera lie months of labour, not only for the artists on stage, but also for those in the workshops and throughout the Theatre. In this exhibition, we aim to bring to light this amazing creative environment which was, and still is, highly influential in Russian and European culture. The challenge is to transform a symbol of Russia and a room full of exhibits into a story. It is both a story of the individuals and influences in the Bolshoi Theatre, and a window on Russian and European art, culture, history, and politics.

Photographs
Dating back to the 1880’s and numbering over eighty thousand items, the Museum’s photographic collection is a fine documentary record of the great moments in the Theatre’s history. It contains portraits of musicians, artists, painters, performers, and their costumes, many of which are signed by their subjects. 20th century photographs include images of set designs, classes, tours, dress rehearsals and life performances as well as everyday life and events.

Manuscripts
The Museum’s manuscript collection includes rare scores signed by many leading figures of the world of opera and ballet, including Alexander Glazunov, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergey Prokofiev and Dmitry Shostakovich. It also includes production programmes, posters, and the original drawings of the Theatre’s building plans by its architect Osip Bove.

Props, Costumes, Costume Designs, and Set Designs
Props, costumes, and set designs show the development through the ages of the Theatre’s craft techniques, displaying the unique skills of the Theatre’s workshop artists, painters and craftsmen. The collection represents a comprehensive history of theatre design in Russia. The most notable designs date back to the second half of the 19th Century, an era in which Russian Opera and Ballet flourished, and the early 20th Century, which was the golden age of Russian theatre. There are also paintings, drawings and sketches by leading Soviet designers.