The Bolshoi Theatre (Russian: ÃâþûÃÅÃËþÃÂù ÃâõðÃÂÃâÃâ¬, tr. Bol'shoy Teatr; IPA: [bÃÂlòÃËÃâoj tòêÃËatr]) is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The theatre's original name was the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow, while the St. Petersburg Bolshoi Theatre (demolished in 1886), was called the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre. At that time, all Russian theatres were imperial property. Moscow and St. Petersburg each had only two theatres, one intended for opera and ballet (these were known as the Bolshoi Theatres), and one for plays (tragedies and comedies). Because opera and ballet were considered nobler than drama, the opera houses were named Grand Theatres (Bolshoi is Russian for large or grand) and the drama theatres were called the Smaller Theatre (Maly is Russian for small, lesser, or little).
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