Artists finally returned to the historical stage of the Bolshoi Theater last week after a six-year renovation. It has been reported that over 5,000 people, including engineers and master craftsmen, were involved in the refurbishment, which had as its objective to restore the theater to its 1856 glory. The Bolshoi had been significantly altered during the communist era, and the acoustics in particular had suffered. Tapestries have been rewoven, crystal pendants and chandeliers were restored or replaced, and over 150 goldsmiths allegedly worked on covering the balconies and interiors with gold leaf – a grand restoration for one of the most legendary theaters in the world.
