Bolshoy Tickets: The Inside Track

Never mind that you can't understand the language. Never mind that performance quality is at a low ebb. Never mind that you don’t even like ballet or opera. You’re in Moscow and you're going to the Bolshoi Theater ‐ whatever it takes. Now you just have to find tickets.

The path you choose, and your chances for success, will depend mostly on three factors. When do you want to go? How long are you staying in Moscow? Where do you want to sit (i.e. How much do you want to spend)?

Outside many metro stations are theater kiosks. These kiosks sell tickets to a wide range of performances throughout the city, but they almost never have tickets to the Bolshoi. You stand a better chance if you happen to run across the state theater‐ticket kiosks which are located inside some metro stations.

If sheer convenience is what you are after, head down to the Metropol Hotel (opposite the theater). Just off of the lobby is IPS Ticket Service. IPS offers tickets to all Bolshoi performances. If the performance has been scheduled, you can buy tickets for it here in advance or on the day of the performance. Prices range from $20 for second balcony seats to $65 for the best seats (winter prices are usually higher than summer). IPS accepts rubles, dollars, and credit cards on totals of $100 or more. English is no problem.

For the more intrepid or less well-heeled, the spekulanty are waiting to serve you. These are the ‘black market’ dealers who linger around the theater re-selling tickets for large profit. Like the IPS option, you can almost always find tickets this way, and it’s one of the few places left where you can re-live some of the cloak and dagger jitters of “the bad old days.”

On the down-side, the spekulanty don’t carry seating plans, so you aren’t likely to know where your in metros or the kassa at the Bolshoi itself. seats will be, increasing the likelihood of a rip-off or disappointment.

You don’t have to look for these characters ‐ they will find you. They are young, probably speak at least a smattering of English, are hanging around at all times of the day, and are not dangerous. They hire pensioners and young students to buy tickets for them at regular prices (R30,000 or $6) and then resell them for anywhere from $10 for nose-bleed seats to $80 for the best seats and performances. The spekulanty gambit is de rigueur for students, and is recommended for anyone who needs tickets at the last minute.

Of course, you can always try an original approach and visit the Bolshoi Theater box office itself, located next to the theater. It is open daily from noon to 3 pm. Prices here range from $5 to $10. A bargain if you can get them (remember the spekulanty). They aren’t likely to speak foreign languages here, but you will find here a theater plan with which to locate your seats.

A last resort is to call any of the major travel agents in Moscow, including Intourist. Many of these sell Bolshoi tickets as part of their services. Remember before you buy: The best seats are located in the partyer (pit) or lozha (lodge). Forget about the balkon (balcony) or balkon vtorovo yarusa (second balcony level) – unless you are just going for the experience (these are the nosebleed seats noted above). In this case, don’t pay more than $10 for your seat.