Bolshoi Theater to reopen reconstructed historic stage.

MOSCOW, October 28 (Itar-Tass) -- The world famous Bolshoi Theater in
Moscow will reopen its historic stage on Friday after a six-year
reconstruction that cost close to 21 billion rubles (US$ 700 million) and
developed the ancient building into a high-tech facility, but preserved
the unique interior.
President Dmitry Medvedev is expected to attend the gala concert which
will be broadcast live in Russia and many countries of Europe, America,
and Asia.
The Bolshoi Theater appears at the peak of its beauty in late XIX
century - restored imperial splendor and grandeur, unique acoustics, the
golden curtain, and big crystal-glass chandeliers.
However the theater has doubled in space as it expanded underground
where the Beethoven Camera Hall can accommodate up to 300 spectators.
The main hall of the Bolshoi Theater decreased the number of seats
from 2100 to 1768 to make it more comfortable for the audience and to
accommodate handicapped people in wheelchairs.
The pricing policy has also changed and a ticket to the stalls will
now cost 3000 rubles (US$ 100) while close to 400 tickets will be sold for
a hundred rubles to low-income people.
The gala concert on Friday will last two hours and will involve the
whole company of the Bolshoi Theater as well as invited world opera stars
to celebrate a new life in the old house.