News & headlines

On 31 October, Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum and Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow opened a joint exhibition, ‘Plisetskaya. The Pole of Magic’, to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maya Plisetskaya – the great ballerina who has changed the perception of theatre and dance across the world.

"Bakhrushin Theatre Museum implements large-scale cultural projects across the country and beyond – from creating new museum spaces to international exhibitions and educational initiatives. One such project is the anniversary series of exhibitions, ‘Plisetskaya. The Pole of Magic’, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Maya Plisetskaya's birth. Our partnership with Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow within this project is an example of how museum initiatives can transcend traditional formats and find new spaces to engage with audiences. We support projects that help us talk about theatre in a new language and make culture a part of everyday life," commented Kristina Trubina, General Director of Bakhrushin Theatre Museum.

The prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre and People's Artist of the USSR, Maya Plisetskaya, is rightly considered a symbol of an entire era. Her grace and femininity, combined with strength of character, fearlessness, passion, and artistic freedom, created that stage magic which captivated the entire world.

The name of Maya Plisetskaya is inextricably linked with the finest productions in world ballet – Swan Lake, Carmen Suite, Don Quixote, Anna Karenina, Boléro, The Sleeping Beauty, Leda, Isadora, and others. Photographs capturing Plisetskaya in these legendary roles form part of the exhibition opening at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, where the ballerina once stayed.

The exhibition features unique materials from Bakhrushin Theatre Museum's collection: digital copies of rare archival photos from the ballerina's legendary performances, photographic portraits, as well as images from the personal archives of Maya Plisetskaya and Rodion Shchedrin. Among the photographers are recognised masters of stage and artistic photography: Vladimir Bliokh, Alexander Trubitsyn, Larisa Pedenchuk, Georgy Solovyov, and Mikhail Logvinov, a long-standing friend of the museum and one of Russia's finest ballet photographers.

Specially for the exhibition opening, Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow has prepared a thematic menu: ‘Maya Plisetskaya 100 Years’. Chef Andrey Kagokin has created a gastronomic homage to Maya Plisetskaya in 5 acts, revealing the multifaceted talent and tastes of the great artist.

"It is a great honour for us to become a part of the celebration for 100 years anniversary of Maya Plisetskaya through our cooperation with Bakhrushin Theatre Museum. By opening the photo exhibition and presenting the thematic menu, we aim to create a series of experiences for our guests and visitors that reflect the multifaceted legacy of the greatest ballerina of the 20th century. May every frame and every dish become its own ‘pas’ – a gesture that tells the story of an incredible life and career, a confluence of grace, strength, and weightlessness," noted Lada Samodumskaya, General Manager of Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow.

The opening at the Baltschug continues the anniversary series of exhibitions by Bakhrushin Theatre Museum dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Maya Plisetskaya. Previously, the exhibitions were shown in Moscow, Kazan, and Luxembourg; Ryazan, ahead are Tula, Beijing, and Brussels. Each one allows visitors to engage with the phenomenon of Plisetskaya – a woman whose artistry continues to inspire performers and audiences worldwide.

The exhibition ‘Maya Plisetskaya. The Pole of Magic’ is held at Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow from October 31 to December 17, 2025. (Age 6+)

Dishes from the thematic menu can be ordered individually or as part of the ‘Plisetskaya’ gastronomic set with a glass of Bottega Prosecco Lady in Red Kempinski (8,500 roubles for the 5-course menu) at Café Kranzler and the Lobby Lounge from October 31 to December 26.

###

About Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum: Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum was founded on October 29, 1894 by a Moscow industrialist and patron of the arts, Alexei Bakhrushin (1865–1929). With the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, and as part of the museum's comprehensive development programme, the first Museum-Theatre Quarter in Russia is being created on Paveletskaya. The combination of multimedia, research, and information resources will enable the implementation of large-scale cultural programmes, creative and social projects. Bakhrushin Museum is the largest repository of theatrical heritage in Russia and the third largest by its collection volume after the State Historical Museum and the Hermitage. Its more than 1.5 million exhibits across 19 sites and in the museum's holdings include archives of renowned theatre figures, costume and set designs by famous masters of scenography, stage costumes of great actors, decorative and applied arts objects, theatre programmes and posters, photographs, portraits, and rare publications. The main Bakhrushin estate, comprising 6 buildings, is located in Moscow, as are 10 of its branches: 3 memorial houses (A.N. Ostrovsky, M.N. Yermolova, M.S. Shchepkin), 5 museum-apartments (Vs.E. Meyerhold, G.S. Ulanova, M.M. Plisetskaya, V.N. Pluchek, and the acting family of M.V. and A.A. Mironov – A.S. Menaker), the museum-workshop of theatre artist D.L. Borovsky, and the Radio Theatre Museum-Studio. In 2017, a museum branch opened in Zaraysk – the ancestral home of the Bakhrushin family. In 2021, the museum acquired a building in the Museum Quarter in Tula for new facilities.

About Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow: The five-star Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow is located in the heart of the Russian capital, with its rooms offering a picturesque view of the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basil&'s Cathedral. The inimitable look of the hotel, whose historic facade dates back to 1898, makes Baltschug one of the capital's "visiting cards" for tourists and businessmen visiting Moscow. The hotel offers guests spacious rooms and suites with a view of the Kremlin; the Baltschug Grill restaurant, Café Kranzler and the Lobby Lounge bar; a health club and a beauty centre; and 12 modern conference rooms.

Media contact:

Eugenia Goncharenko · Director of Marketing Communications & Public Relations

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow

ul. Balchug, 1 · Moscow · 115035, Russia

T +7 495 287 20 00 · M +7 903 665 15 11 · [email protected]