MUSEUMS
Moscow’s museums are countless. One the most famous is the State Museum of Fine Arts named after Pushkin. The Museum was opened in 1912 in presence of emperor Nikolai II. The building was designed by architect R. Klein. The fasade is decorated by antique Ionic columns. Each room of the museum is decorated in a certain Ionic style. Thanks to the unique collections of paintings and rare ancient originals the museum has reached the world level and is second, after the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, collection of objects of the antique, old Egyptian and Western European art.

The museum is famous for its collection of paintings referred to the European Renaissance, it possesses pictures belonging to the major schools of painting of Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and France. Especially famous are collections of impressionists: Cezane, Gauguin, Monet, E. Degas, van Gogh, as well as paintings of masters of the early 20th century: Matisse, Picasso, Rousseau, Kandinsky, Shagal.

Besides the permanent exposition, the museum arranges interesting exhibitions. The major galleries of the world bring here their collections. For more than two decades the Museum has been conducting “The December Evenings of Svyatoslav Rikhter”. This is the unity of music and various types of plastic art - painting, sculpture, drawing. This festival has an international status. Outstanding national and foreign musicians participate in the event. The art adviser of the festival is celebrated musician Yury Bashmet. The festival is usually timed to coincide with major exhibitions involving national museums – the Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow and foreign museums – Louvre and Musee d’Orsay in Paris, the National Gallery in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New-York, the Picture Gallery in Drezden and many other collections. The subject of such exhibitions is always in keeping with the theme of the festival.

The Tretyakov Art Gallery is the largest depository of Russian works of art from the early 11th to the end of the 20th centuries. The gallery possesses the most complete collection of icons. The gallery was founded in 1856 by Moscow merchant Pavel Tretyakov as a private collection of Russian art which he presented to the city of Moscow. Since then the collection of the museum has been considerably increased. While going through the gallery you can admire unique portraits, drawings, monumental canvases and works of fine arts. You will see the works of V. Vasnetsov, V. Surikov, I. Shishkin, I. Levitan showing the beauty of Russian nature, reflecting dramatic historical events. Of great interest are the works of Russian impressionists and modernists.

Borodino Battle Panorama Museum. The exhibits show battle scenes of the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon, Moscow fire, home guards resisting French soldiers, field-marshal Mikhail Kutuzov on the eve of the historic Borodino battle. The canvas 115 m in circumference and 15 m high, strikes one with its enormous dimensions and naturalistic character. On display in the rooms are military banners, weapons, ammunition and uniforms of soldiers and officers of the Russian army. A separate section shows captured guns from different European countries whose troops were included into the Napoleon’s army. The double-level observation platform allows the visitors, on the one hand, to see panorama and, on the other hand, to examine closely the details.

Museon Park of Arts is a unique open air museum of sculpture housing over 700 authors’ works made of stone, bronze, wood and other materials. The Park is unique for the works of artists of different generations and styles, the works of the period of Russian sculpture development in the 20th centuries. Museon hosts symposiums on sculpture, which give visitors a good opportunity to witness the creative process of a sculpture birth.

Russkoje Podvorje, handicrafts and exhibition center, the 18th century Russian wooden architecture style complex is situated in Izmailovo, Moscow historical site, featuring: - Russian tsar Alexey Mickhaylovich`s Chambers (“The Russian Meal Palace”) - St Nicholas the Wonder-Worker temple (in the name of the Patron Saint of artisans), one of the tallest wooden temples in Russia (42 metres) - Participation in master-classes - Special program «Russian Winter» and the opportunity to meet the Russian Santa Claus – Ded Moroz - Stands, representing all of the Russian leading handicraft regions are at your disposal. - Folk music concerts and festive activities are held regularly in the complex “Russkoje Podvorje” - The biggest souvenir shopping in the Vernisage in the complex “Russkoje Podvorje”.

THEATRES

When strolling along the centre of Moscow one cannot but pass by the majestic building of the Bolshoi Theatre with the recognizable from numerous photoes pediment adorned with an equestrian quadriga driven by the God of Arts Apollo. The theatre was opened in January 1825. The magnificent building in the classical style, decorated inside in red-golden colour tones, was, by contemporaries’ admission, the best theatre in Europe and in scale it was only second to the Milan “La Scala”.

At present, the Bolshoi Theatre is the main national ballet and opera theatre, its repertoire includes masterpieces of the Russian musical art of the 19th – 20th centuries as well as modern works. The most renowned artists consider it great honour to perform at the Bolshoi Theatre.

In July 2005, the reconstruction of the historical building of the Bolshoi Theatre began and in September 2005 all performances of the Bolshoi Theatre were transferred to the New Stage in a specially erected building close by. In the season of 2008-2009 The Bolshoi plans to put performances on both stages.

The Maly Theatre, located to the right of the Bolshoi Theatre, is known for its marvelous drama performances and great enlightening work. The building was constructed in 1818 by architects A.F. Elkinsky and O.I. Bove. The name Maly (Small) Theatre originated from the smaller size of the hall compared to the Bolshoi Theatre. After fire of 1841 the theatre was rebuilt by T.A. Ton. A statue of playwright A.N. Ostrovsky, whose plays make up the basis of the theatre’s repertoire was erected in front of the theatre.