Difference between revisions of "Bolshoi Circus"

From Circopedia

(The Soviet Circus's Flagship)
(See Also)
 
(54 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
[[File:Bolshoi_Circus_by_night.jpeg|right|400px]]
 
== Moscow's "New Circus" ==
 
== Moscow's "New Circus" ==
  
Line 4: Line 5:
  
  
[[File:Bolshoi_Circus_by_night.jpeg|right|thumb|330px|The Bolshoi Circus]]The "Great Moscow Circus on Vernadsky Avenue" ("Bolshoi Moscowskiy Tsirk na Vernadskogo" in Russian) was built under the reign of Leonid Brezhnev as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR, and opened its doors on April 30, 1971. It is located on Vorobiovy Hills (formerly Lenin Hills), near Moscow University, at 24 Vernadsky Prospect (Avenue). Built by Yakov Belopolsky—one of the busiest official architects of the Brezhnev era—in cooperation with E. Bulikh, S. Feoksitov and V. Khavin (who may have been more familiar with the technical demands of such a structure), it is, with its 3,350-seat house and its numerous and specialized facilities, the world's largest circus building.
+
The "Great Moscow Circus on Vernadsky Avenue" (''Большой Московский цирк на проспекте Вернадского'' in Russian), better known as Moscow's ''Bolshoi Circus'' ("Grand Circus") was built under the tenure of Leonid Brezhnev as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR, and opened its doors on April 30, 1971. It is located on Vorobiovy Hills (formerly Lenin Hills), in the Gagarin District, between Vernadsky Prospect (avenue), which separates it from the Moscow University campus, and Nikolai Kopernik (Copernic) Street; Lomonosov Avenue joins them on the southern side. Although it is far from Moscow's center, it is well deserved by the ''Universitet'' metro station.
  
Its unique technical fittings make it an exceptional tool for the presentation of all sorts of large-scale circus productions. The building includes a rehearsal ring, located backstage, behind the ring entrance, in a space vast and high enough to accommodate a large flying act; a stage above the ring entrance, which can connect to the ring with a giant telescopic staircase that unfolds automatically; the possibility for aerialists to access their apparatus from the ceiling; and several rooms at various temperatures to accommodate the upkeep of exotic animals.
+
===A Revolutionary Building===
  
But its interchangeable ring is the true jewel in the crown: It is placed on a hydraulic platform that can be lowered into a gigantic basement, in which four other rings are stored around the central elevator.The full-size rings can roll on and off the elevator platform. The main ring is a traditional equestrian ring, the first ever to have been covered with a hard-rubber mat, as it is now the custom in Russian circuses. Others are a water basin, replete with underwater lighting and fountains; a hard floor ring with trapdoors for magic acts; a lighted floor ring; and an ice ring. This system allows not only quick floor changes adapted to each specific act, but also gives the possibility to install complicated riggings or scenic elements during the presentation of an aerial act, or of an act on stage.
+
The building was conceived by Yakov Borisovich Belopolsky (1916-1993)—one of the busiest official architects of the Brezhnev era—in cooperation with E. Bulikh, S. Feoktistov and V. Khavin, the engineers who developed the unique technology of this revolutionary circus. With its 3,350-seat house, 56 meters in diameter (approximately 185 feet) and a height of 28 meters (92 feet) under the cupola, and its numerous specialized features and facilities, it is the world's largest and technically most advanced circus building.
  
===The Soviet Circus's Flagship===
+
[[File:Bolshoi_Rings.png|thumb|left|400px|The ring machinery; the elevator is on the right (2020)]]Its unique fittings make it an exceptional tool for the presentation of all sorts of large-scale circus productions. The ensemble includes a rehearsal ring, located backstage behind the ring entrance in a space vast and high enough to accommodate aerial acts; a stage above the ring entrance, which can connect to the ring with a telescopic staircase that unfolds automatically; the possibility for aerialists and technicians to access the house or their apparatus from the ceiling; a multitude of dressing rooms, offices, and workshops (for costumes and equipment), a canteen and a cafeteria for the personnel, and several spacious rooms with controlled temperatures to accommodate the upkeep of all sorts animals.
  
During the Communist era, the Bolshoi Circus was the most prestigious circus of the USSR. From 1977-1983, it was under the management of the famous antipodist (foot juggler—and, in this case, foot balancer) [[Evguenny Milaev]], who happened to be Leonid Brezhnev's son-in-law. After a financial scandal that implied Milaev, the circus passed under various managements, until another former star of the old Soviet circus, the perch-pole balancer [[Leonid Kostiuk]], was given the reins. Kostiuk remained at the helm after the fall of the Soviet regime in 1991. [[Image:Bolshoi_Circus_Parade_1976.jpg|left|thumb|330px|Inside the Bolshoi Circus (1976)]]
+
But the true jewel of the crown is without a doubt its interchangeable ring: It is placed on a hydraulic circular platform that can be lowered into a gigantic basement, where four other full-size specialized rings are stored around this central elevator, and can roll on and off its platform. The main ring is a traditional equestrian ring, the first ever to have been covered with a hard-rubber mat, as it is now the custom in Russian circuses. Others are: A water basin, replete with underwater lighting and fountains; a hard floor ring with trapdoors for magic acts; a lighted floor ring with color effects; and an ice ring. This system allows not only quick floor changes adapted to each specific act, but also gives the possibility to install complicated rigging or scenic elements during the presentation of an aerial act or of an act on stage.
  
The building's heavy machinery was conceived with custom systems and elements especially designed for this project, and it became difficult to maintain or fix when needed, since there are no existing replacement parts. Furthermore, the building is located far from Moscow's center, and after the fall of the Soviet regime—and its system of corporate group sales—it had proved difficult to fill to capacity the 3,500 seats of a circus that is particularly expensive to maintain. Although the Bolshoi Circus still offerered circus shows of the highest quality, its old downtown competition, "The Circus on Tsvetnoi Boulevard," today [[Circus Nkulin]], had reclaimed its crown as Moscow's—and Russia's—premier circus.
+
===The Rise and Fall of The Soviet Circus's Flagship===
  
In 2012, however, a change of administrative management at the Bolshoi Circus marked the dawn of a new era, and it came with the beginning of a long-awaited restoration. In 2013, the Russian Ministry of Culture renewed its interest in the circus arts, which led to major changes in the Russian circus, starting with the management of the many circus buildings operating in Russia. In the process, the Bolshoi Circus passed under the management of the brothers [[The Zapashny Family|Edgard and Askold Zapashny]], who already owned a private (and extremely successful) circus company.
+
During the Communist era, the Bolshoi Circus was the most prestigious circus of the USSR. From 1977-1983, it was under the management of the famous antipodist (foot juggler—and, in this case, ladder balancer) [[Evgeniy Milaev]] (1911-1983), who had been be Leonid Brezhnev's daughter's first husband. After a financial scandal that implied Milaev, followed by his death in 1983, the circus passed under the management of another former star of the Soviet circus, the perch-pole balancer [[Leonid Kostiuk]]. Kostiuk remained at the helm until the fall of the Soviet regime in 1991. [[File:Bolshoi_Circus_House.png|right|thumb|400px|The House during a Rehearsal (2020)]]
  
The best known circus artists and managers in Russia, and the wealthiest to boot, the brothers Zapashny did not see the Bolshoi Circus as a mean to make more money: they have approached its management as a "patriotic" duty—the restoration of its primary position in the Russian circus world, and in the circus world in general. In 2011, they created the "Idol" World Festival of Circus Arts, which immediately became a major international circus festival, putting the Bolshoi Circus back on the international map. They also started a extensive program of renovation of the building and its aging machinery, and they brought their own creative talents to its productions, which have become more attuned to modern audiences. Thus the mighty Bolshoi Circus has entered a period of renewal.
+
After the fall of the USSR, and without the communist system of corporate group sales, it became difficult to fill to capacity the 3,550 seats of a circus that was particularly expensive to maintain. During the Yeltsin era, which was particularly disastrous for Russia, the circus was managed by a string of bureaucrats with no real artistic or administrative competence, and the circus began to face serious financial problems and it fell in a state of disrepair. In the process, the Bolshoi Circus's old downtown competition, "The Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard" (today [[Circus Nkulin]]), which had been entirely rebuilt in the mid-1980s, reclaimed its crown as Moscow's—and Russia's—premier circus.
 +
 
 +
In 2012, however, a change of administrative management at the Bolshoi Circus marked the dawn of a new era, and it came with the beginning of a long-awaited restoration. In 2013, the Russian Ministry of Culture renewed its interest in the circus arts; this led to major changes in the management of [[RosGosTsirk]], the Russian circus central organization, and at the Bolshoi Circus, which was a State circus (and thus under the direct purview of the Ministry of Culture). Its management was given to the brothers [[The Zapashny Family|Edgard and Askold Zapashny]], who already owned a private (and extremely successful) circus company and had proved their worth.
 +
 
 +
===The Renaissance===
 +
 
 +
[[File:Edgard_and_Askold_Zapashny.jpeg|thumb|left|300px|Edgard & Askold Zapashny]]The sons of the legendary cat trainer [[Walter Zapashny]], and the best known circus artists in Russia (and the wealthiest to boot), the brothers Zapashny did not see the Bolshoi Circus as a financial opportunity: As they put it, they approached its management as a "patriotic" duty—the restoration of its primary position in the Russian circus, and in the circus world in general. The Zapashnys are not only the circus's directors (Askold crating the shows and Edgard taking care of the all-important public relations), they are first and foremost performers, and they appear in their own productions; as it is to many circus performers, circus is their passion.
 +
 
 +
In 2013, they created the [[Idol Festival|''Idol'' World Festival of Circus Arts]], which immediately became a major international circus event, putting the Bolshoi Circus back on the international map. Not only did the Zapashny brothers  bring their own creative talents to the Bolshoi Circus's productions—which made it more attuned to modern audiences—they also started an extensive program of renovation of the building and its aging machinery, which restored its status as the modern circus it was meant to be. Thus the mighty Bolshoi Circus experienced a long-awaited renaissance.
 +
 
 +
In 2018, the Bolshoi Circus left the Ministry of Culture and passed under the control of the City of Moscow, which immediately decided to undergo a complete makeover of its aging infrastructure, which, in spite of recent renovations and modernization, was still in poor condition: leaking roofs, particularly, had to be addressed. This change of tutelage was a good move for the Bolshoi Circus, since the rich and vibrant City of Moscow has a vested interest in putting more attention on the well-being of its giant circus. The Bolshoi Circus, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2021, is now thriving again and has regained its position as one of the leading circuses of the World.
 +
 
 +
==See Also==
 +
 
 +
* Video: [[Bolshoi_Circus_Video_(2021)|The Bolshoi Circus's History]], full television documentary (2011)
  
 
==Image Gallery==
 
==Image Gallery==
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
File:Milaev_and_Brezhneva.png|Evgeniy Milaev & Galina Brezhneva (c.1951)
 
Image: Bolshoi circus architects plan.jpg|Bolshoi Circus: Architect's Plan and elevation (1972)
 
Image: Bolshoi circus architects plan.jpg|Bolshoi Circus: Architect's Plan and elevation (1972)
 
Image: Bolshoi Circus 1974.jpg|Moscow's Bolshoi Circus (1974)
 
Image: Bolshoi Circus 1974.jpg|Moscow's Bolshoi Circus (1974)
Line 29: Line 45:
 
File:Bolshoi_Circus_at_Night.jpg|Moscow's Bolshoi Circus (c.2000)
 
File:Bolshoi_Circus_at_Night.jpg|Moscow's Bolshoi Circus (c.2000)
 
File:Bolshoi_Circus_by_night.jpeg|Moscow's Bolshoi Circus (c.2005)
 
File:Bolshoi_Circus_by_night.jpeg|Moscow's Bolshoi Circus (c.2005)
 +
File:Edgard_and_Askold_Zapashny.jpeg|Edgard & Askold Zapashny (c.2013)
 +
File:Idol_2015.jpg|The Cast of the 2015 ''Idol'' Festival (2015)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Circus_Program_2018.jpeg|Program Cover (2018)
 +
File:Seating_plan_Bolshoi_Circus.jpg|Seating Plan (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Circus_House.png|Bolshoi Circus's auditorium (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Circus_House_Tech.png|Lighting installation (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Rings.png|The basement with its interchangeable rings machinery (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Circus_ring_elevator.png|The ring elevator machinery (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_ice_ring.png|The ice ring at rest (2020)
 +
File:Ring_Bolshoi_Coming_Up.png|A New Ring Coming Up (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Circus_Aerial.png|Aerial View (2020)
 +
File:Bolshoi_Practice_Ring.png|The Practice Ring (2021)
 +
File:Bolchai_Circus_Postage_Stamp.jpg|50th Anniversary Postage Stamp (2021)
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
  
* [http://www.bigcirc.ru/main/ www.bigcirc.ru]
+
* [https://www.greatcircus.ru www.greatcircus.ru]
  
 
[[Category:Circuses|Bolshoi Circus (Moscow)]]
 
[[Category:Circuses|Bolshoi Circus (Moscow)]]

Latest revision as of 00:00, 9 July 2021

Bolshoi Circus by night.jpeg

Moscow's "New Circus"

By Dominique Jando


The "Great Moscow Circus on Vernadsky Avenue" (Большой Московский цирк на проспекте Вернадского in Russian), better known as Moscow's Bolshoi Circus ("Grand Circus") was built under the tenure of Leonid Brezhnev as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR, and opened its doors on April 30, 1971. It is located on Vorobiovy Hills (formerly Lenin Hills), in the Gagarin District, between Vernadsky Prospect (avenue), which separates it from the Moscow University campus, and Nikolai Kopernik (Copernic) Street; Lomonosov Avenue joins them on the southern side. Although it is far from Moscow's center, it is well deserved by the Universitet metro station.

A Revolutionary Building

The building was conceived by Yakov Borisovich Belopolsky (1916-1993)—one of the busiest official architects of the Brezhnev era—in cooperation with E. Bulikh, S. Feoktistov and V. Khavin, the engineers who developed the unique technology of this revolutionary circus. With its 3,350-seat house, 56 meters in diameter (approximately 185 feet) and a height of 28 meters (92 feet) under the cupola, and its numerous specialized features and facilities, it is the world's largest and technically most advanced circus building.

The ring machinery; the elevator is on the right (2020)
Its unique fittings make it an exceptional tool for the presentation of all sorts of large-scale circus productions. The ensemble includes a rehearsal ring, located backstage behind the ring entrance in a space vast and high enough to accommodate aerial acts; a stage above the ring entrance, which can connect to the ring with a telescopic staircase that unfolds automatically; the possibility for aerialists and technicians to access the house or their apparatus from the ceiling; a multitude of dressing rooms, offices, and workshops (for costumes and equipment), a canteen and a cafeteria for the personnel, and several spacious rooms with controlled temperatures to accommodate the upkeep of all sorts animals.

But the true jewel of the crown is without a doubt its interchangeable ring: It is placed on a hydraulic circular platform that can be lowered into a gigantic basement, where four other full-size specialized rings are stored around this central elevator, and can roll on and off its platform. The main ring is a traditional equestrian ring, the first ever to have been covered with a hard-rubber mat, as it is now the custom in Russian circuses. Others are: A water basin, replete with underwater lighting and fountains; a hard floor ring with trapdoors for magic acts; a lighted floor ring with color effects; and an ice ring. This system allows not only quick floor changes adapted to each specific act, but also gives the possibility to install complicated rigging or scenic elements during the presentation of an aerial act or of an act on stage.

The Rise and Fall of The Soviet Circus's Flagship

During the Communist era, the Bolshoi Circus was the most prestigious circus of the USSR. From 1977-1983, it was under the management of the famous antipodist(French: Antipodiste, Russian: Antipod) Foot juggler. (foot juggler—and, in this case, ladder balancer) Evgeniy Milaev (1911-1983), who had been be Leonid Brezhnev's daughter's first husband. After a financial scandal that implied Milaev, followed by his death in 1983, the circus passed under the management of another former star of the Soviet circus, the perch-poleLong perch held vertically on a performer's shoulder or forehead, on the top of which an acrobat executes various balancing figures. balancer Leonid Kostiuk. Kostiuk remained at the helm until the fall of the Soviet regime in 1991.
The House during a Rehearsal (2020)

After the fall of the USSR, and without the communist system of corporate group sales, it became difficult to fill to capacity the 3,550 seats of a circus that was particularly expensive to maintain. During the Yeltsin era, which was particularly disastrous for Russia, the circus was managed by a string of bureaucrats with no real artistic or administrative competence, and the circus began to face serious financial problems and it fell in a state of disrepair. In the process, the Bolshoi Circus's old downtown competition, "The Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard" (today Circus Nkulin), which had been entirely rebuilt in the mid-1980s, reclaimed its crown as Moscow's—and Russia's—premier circus.

In 2012, however, a change of administrative management at the Bolshoi Circus marked the dawn of a new era, and it came with the beginning of a long-awaited restoration. In 2013, the Russian Ministry of Culture renewed its interest in the circus arts; this led to major changes in the management of RosGosTsirk, the Russian circus central organization, and at the Bolshoi Circus, which was a State circus (and thus under the direct purview of the Ministry of Culture). Its management was given to the brothers Edgard and Askold Zapashny, who already owned a private (and extremely successful) circus company and had proved their worth.

The Renaissance

Edgard & Askold Zapashny
The sons of the legendary cat trainer(English/American) An trainer or presenter of wild cats such as tigers, lions, leopards, etc. Walter Zapashny, and the best known circus artists in Russia (and the wealthiest to boot), the brothers Zapashny did not see the Bolshoi Circus as a financial opportunity: As they put it, they approached its management as a "patriotic" duty—the restoration of its primary position in the Russian circus, and in the circus world in general. The Zapashnys are not only the circus's directors (Askold crating the shows and Edgard taking care of the all-important public relations), they are first and foremost performers, and they appear in their own productions; as it is to many circus performers, circus is their passion.

In 2013, they created the Idol World Festival of Circus Arts, which immediately became a major international circus event, putting the Bolshoi Circus back on the international map. Not only did the Zapashny brothers bring their own creative talents to the Bolshoi Circus's productions—which made it more attuned to modern audiences—they also started an extensive program of renovation of the building and its aging machinery, which restored its status as the modern circus it was meant to be. Thus the mighty Bolshoi Circus experienced a long-awaited renaissance.

In 2018, the Bolshoi Circus left the Ministry of Culture and passed under the control of the City of Moscow, which immediately decided to undergo a complete makeover of its aging infrastructure, which, in spite of recent renovations and modernization, was still in poor condition: leaking roofs, particularly, had to be addressed. This change of tutelage was a good move for the Bolshoi Circus, since the rich and vibrant City of Moscow has a vested interest in putting more attention on the well-being of its giant circus. The Bolshoi Circus, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2021, is now thriving again and has regained its position as one of the leading circuses of the World.

See Also

Image Gallery

External Links