In the very heart of Moscow, not far from the Kremlin, there stands an old building well-known to those who love music. In the 19th century it housed Savva Mamontov‘s Russian Opera. Later it served as an affiliation of the Bolshoi Theater. Now it belongs to Moscow‘s Operetta Theater. The theater has an extensive repertoire: Johann Strauss‘ "The Bat" and "Vienna Blood", Imre Kalman‘s "The Queen of Czardas", "Circus Princess" and "Bajadere", Ferenz Legar‘s "Merry Widow". The modern performances include "Fiances", a musical by the Soviet classic Isaak Dunayevsky. In fact, the theater began its work in 1929 with staging precisely this musical. Today the musical presents the brilliant young singer Oksana Kotsyurskaya and her partner Vladimir Golyshev.
The Operetta Theater has excellent traditions. It has a group of stars, in which the fashion is set by such talented performers, as Tatiana Shmyga. Both the management and other artists heed what she has to say. As for the public, it has viewed Tatiana as a real operetta diva for many years. Another gifted actress, Svetlana Varguzova, has been a member of the cast for 30 years now. The performances with her participation, such as "The Beautiful Galatea" by Franz Zuppe, and the benefit performance "Prima Donna" about artists‘ life, always enjoy great success. The atmosphere at the Operetta Theater is such that even the most popular artists never display the signs of stardom. This is due to the discipline reigning there, and the habit of hard work, which renders enviable lightness to any performance.
The theater‘s leading actresses are extremely pretty, particularly in their elaborate stage costumes. Men artists are impeccably courteous. Irresistible gentlemen, they seem to have been born in evening dress. This relates to those who enact romantic personages, of course.
The leading men are handsome Yuri Vedeneyev with his powerful baritone, young Sergey Alimpiev, and the best Russian "Mister X" Gerard Vasiliev, who is greatly popular not only in this country, but also abroad. He has performed in many countries. In Japan he reads lectures on Russian music. The anniversary festivities at Moscow‘s Operetta Theater have been postponed till next spring. They promise to be grandiose.

  

Moscow Operetta hall plan