Arts, страница 191 - гдз по английскому языку 10 класс (spotlight) учебник Афанасьева, Дули

Spotlight on Russia - страница 191.

Условие.

It's one of the most famous theatres in the world and one of the most beautiful.

Arts

Spotlight on Russia asks, is there anything more delightful than ...

Ballet at the Bolshoi ?

A trip to the Bolshoi Theatre is an incredible experience, even before the performance begins. The theatre is a masterpiece of Russian neoclassical design. It seats over two thousand people in a wonderland of hanging chandeliers, gold decoration and red velvet furnishings.

The Bolshoi has a history that's almost as dramatic as one of its performances. The original theatre was Prince Urussov's Public Opera and Ballet Theatre, commissioned by Catherine the Great in 1776 and backed by the Englishman Michael Maddox.

The first disaster struck in 1805 when fire damaged it beyond repair. The architect, Osip Bove, designed a new building which opened in 1825. However, disaster struck again in 1853 when the theatre caught fire and the blaze raged for days. Almost all the interior was destroyed, but the outer walls remained more or less intact.

The interior of the building was rebuilt in 1856 by the architect Albert Kavos.

The Bolshoi has always been associated with ballet, and it's the home of the Bolshoi Ballet troupe. It has hosted some of Russia's most famous performances and celebrated premieres by some of the best composers. Glinka's opera, A Life for the Tsar, premiered here on 7^th September, 1842, and Richard Wagner conducted a series of concerts here in 1863. In 1877, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake was first performed here, and it remains a popular favourite. This century, works by the composers Prokofiev and Shostakovich, as well as the 1960s hit Spartacus by Aram Khachaturyan, were also performed at the Bolshoi Theatre.

The Bolshoi ballerinas, actors and opera singers may tour the world, but there's no better place to see the Bolshoi Theatre Company other than right here in Moscow.

What is your favourite ballet? Why not send Spotlight on Russia some pictures of a ballet you would like to see?

ACTIVITIES

• In pairs, discuss why you would like to visit the Bolshoi.
• Discuss any ballets you have seen.
• Would you like to be a ballet dancer?

Решение 1.

Решение 2.