Way to Russia Talk Lounge

LizPattison · Just Starting Joined: 02 Nov 2009 Posts: 2

Hi there,
I am arriving in Moscow on Boxing Day and staying till 31st December so 5 days to do lots of things, firstly any good suggestions? Any ice skating etc or nice wintery activities?? The biggest thing I would like help with is that I would love to go to the Bolshoi Ballet and see Nutcracker. What are the chances of getting tickets now. I don't want to spend a fortune though. Is there anyway of buying tickets when I get there or on the dorr or is that too good to be true??

Thanks very much in advance!
Liz

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 676 Location: Moscow

Mind, the actual Bolshoi has been closed for remont for the last 5 years. Its ballet is playing now in the New Bolshoi theatre.

There are two ways you may be able to score high season tickets to the Nutcracker on short notice. You can go to the box office, believe it or not, this often works. But if you don't speak Russian this won't be an option.

Assuming you'll be staying in a downtown hotel, go to the front desk or concierge and ask if they can get you tickets. This may be possible but at an inflated price. Everything in Russia is possible--for the right price. Be prepared to pay a bundle. It may or may not be worth it to you. Your choice.

Otherwise there is another brilliant ballet theatre downtown, glorious place, the Stanislavsky Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre, 17 Bolshaya Dmitrovka, approximately 8 or 10 blocks from the Bolshoi. Every bit as marvelous as the Bolshoi just less well known. Couldn't find a weblink for it (not surprising) ask at your hotel if they can get you tickets. If you do not speak Russian you will not be able to deal directly with any ticket box office.

Also in the same downtown neighborhood a few block the other direction, is my favorite place in the whole wide world, the Moscow Conservatory. Absolutely the best symphony performances in the most charming symphony hall in the world. http://www.mosconsv.ru/english/page.phtml?4001

Most Russian performance halls don't list events more than 30 days in advance and very often don't sell tickets more than 10 days in advance of a performance. Most of them do not have internet sales and most do not have websites.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 676 Location: Moscow

Although Passport magazine is a slick airline variety guide catering to rich tourists in Moscow, it has listings for local theatres, in English. http://www.passportmagazine.ru/events/. It's a good resource calendar. You should be able to find most downtown performances here, hopefully at least a couple of weeks in advance. Passport is only published once a month. English language guides for theatre performances in Moscow are nearly non-existent.

So far as ice skating goes, there is a lovely outdoor rink downtown at Hermitage Gardens, really pretty place. A fantasy wonderland of a little park in the winter. Beautiful, you'll love it. Skates can be rented there. Plenty of restaurants and cafes around. Real Russia.

I don't live in Moscow anymore, but they were erecting a really ugly seasonal skating rink in Red Sq. starting back a couple of years ago. Craphole of a place behind an ugly fence erected in Red Sqare and ridiculously expensive. Give it a miss.

To sum up: I highly recommend the Stanislavsky Ballet, The Conservatory, and Hermitage Gardens. All downtown.

Any more direct questions?

mr. barley · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:30 am Post subject:

My wife and I saw the nutcracker at the new Bolshoi 5 years ago when we were in Moscow. We were on an adoption trip and the guy who helped us through our adoption while we were in Moscow got us tickets. It was well worth the money to me. When were we ever going to get the chance again? See it if you can. The new Bolshoi is very very nice. I can't imagine what the old Bolshoi is going to look like when it's finished. It will be stunning.

danbrew · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject:

You can actually purchse tickets online from the Bolshoi Theatre. I did it a few years ago and saw the Nutcracker - it was a really nice experience.

http://boxoffice.bolshoi.ru/eng/sales.html

You can visit the schedule page and see the schedule as well:

http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/poster/?&_SERVER=Array&m26=12&y26=2009

The Nutcracker is being performed on the 30th and the 31st.

Enjoy!

Smile