VDNKh "Green Theatre": the third life of open-air stage

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In May 2016, the summer season opened at the Green Theatre, located on the territory of VDNKh. The history of the creation of this structure begins in Soviet times. For the first time at VDNKh, the Green Theater was built in 1939, according to the project of architect Boris Efimovich. At first, the theater, like the exhibition itself, which promoted the victory of the socialist system, was built as a temporary structure, therefore it was completely wooden and was located near the All-Union Exhibition of Economic Activities and Ostankino Park. From this, he was literally buried in greenery and immediately got his name.

Second life of theater

During the Great Patriotic War, the theater was closed along with the exhibition, and only five years later it was decided to reconstruct it.

The architect was given the task of turning the theater into a real temple of art, striking in its monumentality and at the same time making it close to the people. Work began already in 1950 under the leadership of the same Boris Efimovich. The building, located at VDNKh, the Green Theater, was completely rebuilt by the architect, and it became more spacious and majestic.

The team of workers and engineers began with the fact that the towers located on the sides of the stage were increased in size, the top floor was built on, a semicircular pantheon was erected from the rear facade, and an elegant colonnade was built behind the stage. Boris Efimovich did his best, and now the stage can accommodate up to 350 people.

Opening of the Green Theater

For the first time after the war, the Green Theater was opened at VDNKh in August 1954. Songs by Soviet composers, Gliere's "Solemn Overture", written for the opening of the exhibition of agricultural achievements, Muradeli's "Song Suite" and so on.

In the summer season, the success of performing artists was guaranteed, after visiting various exhibitions, people hurried to have a cultural rest in the shade of trees and listen to a good performance. Posters lured visitors who became grateful spectators. This stage for speakers was considered the happiest.

Variety art in the theater

1961 becomes the most significant and happy year for the theater, immersed in greenery. For the first time, the unusual All-Union Creative Workshop of Variety Art (VTMEI) begins to function on its basis, the main leader of which is Leonid Maslyukov. Graduates of the workshop are (today mega-popular artists) Leontiev, Bogatyrev, Petrosyan, Polishchuk, Marusev, tap dancers the Sazonov brothers, who are recognized by the whole world and other pop stars.

Teachers of young performers of various pop genresart become Claudia Shulzhenko, Leonid Utyosov. Numbers and even whole programs were prepared for the performers. In addition to graduates, Yosif Kobzon, Arkady Raikin, Lyudmila Zykina performed on the theater stage. This was the heyday of pop music at VDNKh. The Green Theater has become a place where the Moscow beau monde gathered in the summer.

The decline and rise of the theater

Starting from the 80s, the Green Theater gradually fell into decay and completely closed in the 90s of the last century, when they stopped financing it. Before the third reconstruction, the theater was in disrepair.

In 2014, repair work began at VDNKh, and accordingly, the open-air theater also waited for its finest hour. Firstly, the facade of the theater was returned to its original ivory color, before that it was painted in light green, apparently to be in harmony with the name. The stage was restored, equipped with modern technology, elements of stucco decoration were restored.

In the amphitheater put new seats for spectators in the form of wooden benches. Inside the building there is a rehearsal room with a low bench and a "goat" through which the Soviet guys jumped at a physical education lesson. In the hall there is a staircase that leads to the roof of one of the towers. From the roof you can see the pavilion built nearby, reflecting the vegetable and fruit growing of the country. The open theater stage is located opposite Ostankino Park, so everything is immersed in greenery and reminds many people of the relatively carefree Soviet times.

VDNKh "Green Theatre":where is it?

Moscow is a hospitable city and there are always many visitors from near and far abroad. Anyone who is interested in the exhibition of folk achievements can set up their navigators and find this place without difficulty. Already in 2015, Boris Grebenshchikov, Yuri Bashmet, Jivan Gasparyan and other famous performers performed on the theater stage. From this article you can find out where VDNKh "Green Theater" is located. The address is as follows: VDNKh, Prospekt Mira, 119.

On May 9, 2016, the theater reopened the season with military songs performed by People's Artist of Russia Dmitry Hvorostovsky. In addition to him, Fabio Mastrangelo, Dmitry Kharatyan, Daniil Kozlovsky, Leonid Agutin and other stars of the first magnitude took part in the concert.

To the question of an interested person: "Where is VDNH, the Green Theater, how to get to the concert", in addition to the above address, you can add that you need to take the metro to the VDNKh stop, the first carriage from the center leads towards VDNKh. There are also trolleybus (14, 48, 76), tram (11, 17) and bus (33, 56, 76 and others) routes.