Rehearsal starts in Bolshoi's new branch

Anatoly Iksanov, the Bolshoi's general manager, and Nikolai Maslov, first deputy chairman of the Russian Construction Committee, signed in Moscow on Thursday the acceptance act of the Bolshoi's new affiliate stage.

Iksanov said that rehearsals of Rimsky-Korsakov's Snow-Maiden would begin there immediately after the ceremony. The show will be premiered on November 29th.

The new Bolshoi's branch has a hall with almost 1,000 seats and state-of-the-art equipment. A stage that can elevate by command has been installed in the hall.

Maslov said the reconstruction of the Bolshoi's main building was to start in January. This work will cost $200 million and must be concluded in four or five years. The theatre is supposed to be gradually reconstructed without interrupting its work.