For genuine lovers of opera and ballet, it is worth doing some research before choosing the performance you wish to attend, as quality can be variable. For the rest of us, the breathtaking beauty of the setting, the idiosyncrasies of Russian theatre-going and the historic atmosphere should be more than enough to guarantee a truly memorable evening out.

It is possible to book tickets on the internet, but it works out considerably more expensive than going to the theatre box office. However, some performances sell out very fast, so it may be worth the extra cost.

Performances of larger productions may be staged at the State Kremlin Palace.

Address: 1, Teatralnaya Ploshad, Moscow, 103009, Russia

Telephone: +7 (495) 250-7317

Transport: Teatralnaya, Okhotnyi Ryad and Ploshad Revolutsii Metro Stations

Box Office: Open daily from 12:00 to 19:00 with a break from 15:00 to 16:00

Internet: www.bolshoi.ru. Currently only the booking section is available in English. For reviews of recent productions, try searching on www.theoperacritic.com, www.ballet.co.uk or the Seen and Heard section of www.musicweb-international.com.