Building of Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Music Theatre was constructed in the XVIIIth century as a private residence of Graf Saltikov. The only hall, which remained from that period, is the lobby of the theatre. Between 1839 and 1909 there was a Merchants’ Club and after 1917 the building was occupied by Dmitrovsky Theatre, where an operetta troupe was performing. From 1926 studios had started to perform here and after a mine while theatres of Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko had repressed them. In 1938–1939, the whole compound was rebuilt to its current shape; the halls and stage were widened. In 1941 Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre and Stanislavski’s Opera Studio were merged to become the "Moscow State Musical Theatre of Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko". In the year 1964, the theatre was entitled "Academic" for service in state music cultural evolution. This theatre, being number two after the grandiose Bolshoi Theatre, has its own inexpressible charm. For instance, a "Swan Lake" by Chaikovsky is always considered to be the best version ever, and the last version of "Betrothal in a Monastery" by Prokofiev can pretend to a title of the best performance during the last few years. Traditions of great stage directors are hold here in measures of rationality; if you want to be familiar with opera and ballet, it is better to firstly make acquaintance with "Stasik", a loving nickname given to the theatre by opera goers.
