Theater of the Russian Army hall. Russian army theater

The best muralists took part in the design of the theater: the frescoes of the acoustic ceiling were painted by Lev Bruni, the reinforced concrete curtain-portal was made according to the sketches of Vladimir Favorsky, the plafonds over the sideboards in the amphitheater were created by Alexander Deineka and Ilya Feinberg, the picturesque panels of Pavel Sokolov-Skal and Alexander Gerasimov adorned the front marble stairs. By special orders, furniture, ceiling lamps and chandeliers were made, and the columns around the building have a section in the form of a star.

Moscow was adorned with a new remarkable building: the Central Theater of the Red Army was built. The grandiose, monumental building of the theater rises on the Commune Square, one of the most spacious squares in the capital. It pleases the eye with its wonderful architectural appearance, harmonious harmony of forms, unusual volumes, height. In addition to its main purpose - to be the center theater culture Red Army, the theater must serve the great architectural monument heroic army of the country of socialism, a monument that will exist for many, many centuries. Therefore, the theater building is given in terms of the shape of a five-pointed Red Army star. This emblem is the main, leading motif in the entire architecture of the building.

But the shape of the building played with it bad joke: during the Great Patriotic War German pilots used the theater Soviet army for reference, because 4 of its beams pointed to the Moscow railway stations, and the fifth - to. Therefore, the architects were almost accused of betrayal, and the building was disguised: villages, churches, and groves appeared on the site of the theater.

The Theater of the Red (since 1951 - Soviet, since 1993 - Russian) Army has the largest stage in Europe.

The building occupies 10 floors on the surface (of which 6 - big stage for 1,520 seats, 2 floors - Small stage for 450 seats) and 10 underground floors. The stage of the theater is adapted for showing massive battle scenes with the participation of real tanks.

The stage mechanics were designed by engineer Ivan Maltsin. It works almost without repair even now: 2 huge circles rotate, 12 lifting platforms can turn the stage from the stadium into a mountain landscape.

TsATRA - departmental theater Russian army, and therefore on its stage "passed military service" many famous actors. And instead of the director of the theater - the boss. There are also military barracks and halls with strange names: "Cabbage", where sauerkraut was kept during the war, "zoo", where all sorts of artificial horses are kept. At the same time, the CATRA troupe is considered one of the best in Moscow. Also in the theater building festive events Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and make films. For example, an episode of the film "Kin-Dza-Dza" was filmed here.

They say that...... the building of the Theater of the Russian Army was not completed: they planned to put a statue of a Red Army soldier on the upper tower, a sculpture of October above the central pediment, and five corners of the building were supposed to decorate statues of various branches of the military and fountains. On the roof it was supposed to arrange summer garden for spectators to walk during the intermission. In such a projected form, the TsATRA building fell on the bas-relief of the Northern River Station.
... Faina Ranevskaya left the theater with the words: “I don’t play at airfields.”
... from the building of the Theater of the Russian Army in

There is a wonderful picture in the magazine "Technique of Youth" (1940. No. 2) - the Central Theater of the Red Army from the inside:

I especially liked the tank entrance.
The text comment explains:
"In the theatre in full voice works will be performed the greatest masters world dramaturgy and plays by Soviet playwrights.
The height of the stage box, counting from the floor of the stage to the grate, from which the scenery suspended on cables descends, is 34 meters. In such a box, a large, eight-story building would fit freely.
There are spacious side rooms on both sides of the stage. The area of ​​each of them is 350 square meters. These are called pockets. They serve to prepare voluminous scenery. Here you can prepare "battleship", "armored train", etc. for going on stage. The back stage can also be used for the same purpose. Thus, it is possible to prepare registration for three various activities. And in the corner rooms, located between the pockets and the back stage, you can store decorations for 3-4 performances of the current repertoire."
The theater of the Soviet army is one of the characteristic monuments of Stalinist architecture.

Some art critics and historians consider this building a landmark, seeing it as a departure from the "style of the 1930s." and the beginning of the Stalinist empire. In any case, the idea was grandiose, and, moreover, not the last architects in the hierarchy of that time (deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Academician of Architecture K.S. Alabyan, who was assisted by V.N. Simbnrtsev). Traditionally, as happens with iconic buildings, the construction of the theater reflected several aspects at once, characteristic of an essentially imperial Stalinist state.
1. "Army - eternal love empire, it is an instrument of conquest, it is also a model for society" (this is a phrase from an article by Evgeny Anisimov).
Empires were built on overwhelming militarization.
It is no coincidence, writes a Soviet magazine, "the inspiration for the entire construction was the Red Army and its glorious commander, Marshal Soviet Union K.E. Voroshilov. Tov. Voroshilov personally looked through the sketches of artistic painting, fittings, furniture and made very significant specific corrections. Nothing escaped the attention of the People's Commissar. Throughout the entire period of construction, he tirelessly cared for the theater to be beautiful, comfortable, simple, so that the theater was worthy. Soviet people and his great Red Army."

"You involuntarily raise your eyes up to see aviation. Above the heads of the spectators, in the expanses of a clear, blue sky, proud Stalinist falcons soar. This magnificent artistic painting of the ceiling gives a feeling of freedom, expanse. The most important artwork- large ceiling painting auditorium and foyer - made by professors of painting L. A. Bruni and V. L. Favorsky."

2. Art is a propaganda tool.
The theater of unprecedented size was supposed to show "pictures of the glorious military past of the Russian people. The mass heroic performances will reflect the bright pages of the history, life and life of the Red Army, which won unfading glory in the battles for the motherland, for socialism."
"The revolution put art at the service of the people," is a typical mantra of the Soviet press when it comes to culture.
3. Theatricality - in general characteristic that time.
Let's recall the construction of the main highways with decoration houses (a magnificent front facade and unfinished others), sports and military parades, etc.
Therefore, the new empire could not but create its own Grand Theatre. And having created it, she made sure that he was the very best. From this follows another principle.
4. Gigantomania.
It is no coincidence that the sources of Stalin's time constantly mention the competitive nature of Soviet construction: more than in the rest of the world, more beautiful than before the revolution.
"The stage of the theater is adapted for a wide variety of performances and productions. Its width reaches almost 40 meters, and its depth, counting from the portal, is 30 meters. But this is only the main stage area. Behind it is an extensive rear stage (rear stage), which can also be used for theatrical action. If we add to this the front part of the stage (proscenum), which extends beyond the boundaries of the portal, then the total depth of the entire stage will be 62 meters. In terms of area, it significantly exceeds the auditorium. On it you can deploy a mass action with the participation of more than a thousand people. Here you can show on a grand scale the capture Winter Palace, assault on Perekop. An infantry battalion, cavalry, tanks can "act" on such a stage. The theater has a special tank entrance through which these formidable combat vehicles will enter the stage."

“In the theaters that the bourgeoisie built, concern for the audience did not rise above the stalls and boxes. It was concern for the wealthy visitor. Comfortable, soft chairs, chic and luxury of the so-called “expensive places” were intended for him. the galleries were not very disturbed.There were common wooden benches, almost nothing could be seen from here, the voice of the actor was barely audible.
In the new Soviet theatre, in the Central Theater of the Red Army, all seats are equally comfortable and good. Here, for each spectator, there is twice as much space and air as in other theaters. The auditorium is designed for almost 2 thousand seats. It is for drama theater is a record number. Despite such a large capacity, the farthest seats on the balcony are only 28 meters from the stage."
5. City - sacred place with their own symbols.
In the very center - the mausoleum of the leader, the central squares - places for ceremonies in honor of great events.
The Commune Square, where the theater is located, also played an important role. A whole memorial of the military glory of the Red Army was to be formed here.

"In the near future, the Commune Square will be transformed, the compositional center of which is new theater. Now to the left of it is the vast building of the Central House of the Red Army. M. V. Frunze. On the other side of the square, to the right of the theater, an equally vast building will rise Central Museum Red Army. Tram traffic will go to neighboring streets and lanes. Surrounded by a forest, this area will be an amazing but beautiful corner of Moscow, personifying formidable force and the greatest culture of the Red Army, its unfading glory, which will live for centuries and will reach our distant descendants.
6. The architecture of the Stalin era, of course, had its own language of symbols, where, without a doubt, the Theater of the Red Army also fit in.
In fact, it has become a true hymn to the Soviet five-pointed star, perhaps the most important symbol.
Probably, everyone knows the legend that the commander Voroshilov circled his marshal's ashtray with a pencil and suggested that Alabyan build a theater in a similar form.

Whether this is true or not, I personally don't know. However, in addition to the fact that several tiers of the building in the plan turned out five pointed stars, and the columns framing them also have a section in the form of a star.
Inside, the stars decorate stairs, ceilings, balconies, lamps.

What else can be added?
"The best, qualified forces of the country took part in the construction of the theater. The project of the theater was developed by architects, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Academician of Architecture K.S. Alabyan and V.N. Simbnrtsev.
A wonderful stage device, the only one in the world, was developed by engineer P. E. Maltsin. In his work, a careful study of the richest experience of the work of the stage of the Moscow Art Academic Theater of the USSR. A. M. Gorky. "[Which was built by the damned capitalists, led by the sponsor of the Bolsheviks, industrialist S. T. Morozov]

"It goes without saying that the complex and varied technical equipment of the theatre, as well as the lighting of the auditorium, stage, foyer and other premises, require an enormous amount of electricity. The total installed power throughout the theater exceeds 4 thousand kilowatts. This means that if all stage mechanisms, all lighting devices, then just such a grandiose power would be required, which would be enough for lighting big city with a population of several tens of thousands of inhabitants. The theater is equipped with its own electrical substation with a capacity of 2400 kilowatts. More than 10,000 light points have been arranged throughout the building and about 50 kilometers of multi-core cable have been laid. If all these veins, all electrical and telephone wires were pulled into one line, then it would stretch from Moscow to Kyiv, for a distance of 800 kilometers.

"Over the big auditorium located concert hall with nearly 500 seats. The Red Banner Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble and the best artistic forces of the capital will perform here. Ordinary people can go here theatrical performances. In addition, this hall will serve as a rehearsal room for the theater. In this respect, it is of great convenience, because here is the same wide stage as below.
Above concert hall There is a spacious art studio. Great picturesque scenery is being prepared here."

In addition, the theater was not fully realized as planned - the war probably prevented:
"The architectural design of the theater has not yet been fully completed. A giant figure of a Red Army soldier has yet to be erected on the upper tower of the building. It should also be placed above the central pediment of the theater grandiose sculpture"October". Five top corners buildings will be decorated with sculptures depicting various branches of the Red Army, powerful fountains will be arranged in the lower corners.

Central academic theater The Russian army has no analogues not only in Russia, but also in the world. This also applies to the enormous size of the building itself and its stage, and the organization of the theater, which is completely under the control of the Ministry of Defense.

The army has always played a big role in the life of the Russian and Soviet society. It suffices to recall the numerous sports teams most high level, under the patronage of the army, forged victories that brought prestige to the state. The attitude towards art at the Ministry of Defense was also very attentive. In 1930, the Central Theater of the Red Army was created, which took its place in a specially built building - a monumental masterpiece of the Stalinist Empire style. Such a building can be the envy of all other theaters in Moscow. The theater building was put into operation in 1940 and includes two halls - Big and Small. The Great Hall, which can accommodate 1900 spectators, is the largest theater hall in Europe.

The grandiose and the size of the stage Great Hall. Previously, massive, large-scale productions with battle scenes were very popular. If necessary, entire military units could enter the theater stage, as well as riders or cars!

Strictly speaking, by the time of the official opening, the theater had already existed for two years. It was an organized system of propaganda teams that acted in military camps on Far East. After moving to Moscow, the theater immediately began to gain popularity. At first, the theater's repertoire consisted mainly of patriotic plays. Posters were full of the following names: "First Cavalry", "Commander Suvorov", "Front", "Stalingraders". The most famous performance of the theater in its history is "A long time ago" by Alexander Gladkov, which served as the basis for the film " Hussar ballad". This performance is over 1200 times higher!

The theater of the Russian (until 1993 - Soviet) army has always been famous for its troupe. IN Soviet time the issue of staffing was solved simply - as theater employees, military service the best young actors. The actresses also willingly went to work in the theater of the Soviet army - the conditions for remuneration in it were very good. IN different time the actors of the theater were Vladimir Soshalsky, Boris Plotnikov, Evgeny Steblov, Alexander Domogarov. leading actors contemporary theater Russian army are Vladimir Zeldin, Fedor Chenkhankov, Lyudmila Chursina, Lyudmila Kasatkina.

The modern repertoire of the theater includes 19 performances, among which there are both Russian classics (works by A. Ostrovsky), and European classics (Lope de Vega, Goldoni) and more contemporary plays. If you want to enjoy the game of the masters and feel the grandeur of the theaters of the "Soviet temper" - get tickets to the theater of the Russian army!

The striking architectural solution, the grandiose dimensions of the building and the main hall, the impressive possibilities of the stage and the special organization of events are under the control of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. All voiced - Central in Moscow.

About the theater

The theater of the then Red Army began its glorious activity in 1930. It was decided to make its home a striking masterpiece of the Stalinist Empire style - a building shaped like a huge five-pointed star, designed by V. N. Simbirtsev and K. S. Alabyan. It was put into operation ten years later - in 1940.

If you look at the scheme of the Great Hall of the Theater of the Russian Army, then there is no doubt that it is recognized as the largest among all the halls of the world's drama theaters. With a height of 6 floors, designed for more than 1.5 thousand spectators, it is remembered by everyone who has been here. The scene, recognized as the largest in Europe, deserves special attention, here it is possible to unfold a natural battle scene, line up an entire military unit, and even drive a car freely.

You can buy tickets for performances, performances, concerts and other events both at the theater box office and online on its official website and at virtual ticket offices.

The scheme of the Great Hall of the Theater of the Russian Army additionally testifies to its scale and grandeur. But the biggest pride is the troupe, the team of directors.