The State Kremlin Palace is one of the main concert venues in the country. Today, show programs of the most famous and popular Russian and foreign artists, performances and ballets, creative evenings and many other events in the world of modern culture are held here. The special position of this center on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin demonstrates the special significance of the events taking place here. The large-scale modernization of sound and light lighting carried out here in 2013 allowed the center to take pride of place among the most famous concert venues in the world, such as Carnegie Hall and Irvine Plaza in New York, Olympia in Paris, Stravinsky » in Montreux and others.
The history of the palace begins in 1961 - it was then that it was decided to place the country's main concert venue on the historically significant territory. In many respects, the harmony of the structure with other structures of the Kremlin territory was achieved through the minimalist forms of the building, reminiscent of the styles of ancient Russian architecture. Innovative technologies and the best materials were used in the construction. Initially, it was planned to create a hall for four thousand people, but later the number of seats was increased to six thousand.
Today, the structure of the center has three large venues - the Large, Small and Diplomatic Halls. The Great Hall hosts the biggest concert events, important ceremonies, circus performances, world premieres and much more. It also hosts concert programs dedicated to various memorable dates, professional holidays of those people who work for the good of the country and do a lot for its prosperity. At present, the technical equipment of the hall allows it to host world-class shows of any complexity.
The Small Hall often pleases fans of sports ballroom dancing - it is here that prestigious competitions for the World and European Cups are held. Also, the stage of the Small Hall provides an opportunity to see performances of various genres and creative evenings of stars of Russian and foreign culture. Here, on the sixth floor, the famous "Kremlin" buffet is located, and the windows offer a beautiful view of the city. The Diplomatic Hall hosts concerts of classical, folk and jazz music. To see the brightest concert events, you must definitely buy tickets to the State Kremlin Palace.
50 years ago, an ambitious project of the then leadership of the USSR was implemented - a building appeared on the map of Moscow where thousands of events could be held. The delegates of the CPSU congress were the first to appreciate the advantages of the new stage and grandiose banquet hall in 1961. Then millions of spectators visited concerts and New Year trees there.
Half a century ago, the young architect Andrei Gozak was, to put it mildly, not delighted with the fact that he was sent to the most important construction site in the country. According to him, at that time this project seemed adventurous to many.
In March 1959, the Council of Ministers of the USSR decided: "To build a building for holding congresses and other mass events on the territory of the Kremlin." This document was signed personally by Nikita Khrushchev. They say that the General Secretary was inspired by a trip to Beijing, namely the colossal Palace of Congresses for 10,000 seats. And in order to fit a similar structure measuring 120 by 70 meters on the densely built-up Kremlin territory, another decision was made at the very top - to demolish 6 buildings at once.
“These were the buildings of pre-fire Moscow,” says Galina Malanicheva, chairman of the central council of the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments, “in this sense, they are, of course, unique! We have very few buildings built before the fire of Moscow in 1812.”
Unique newsreel footage: archaeologists are working on a site cleared for construction (although a small officer corps is still in place). Brickwork is the foundation of the palace of Natalya Naryshkina, mother of Peter I.
However, at first the designers did not even try to make the Palace of Congresses exactly the Kremlin. We discussed at least 7 options for the construction site, including: the embankment in the area of the current Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the island opposite the Kremlin, Sparrow Hills, the territory of VDNKh. And the hotheads even suggested demolishing the Gostiny Dvor and building a palace in its place. There was an option to keep the old building of the Armory as a facade, but it was quickly abandoned.
The photograph from the 1920s shows that the builders of the demolished buildings also took care of the unique silhouette of the Kremlin. Today it becomes clear how the architects did their best to preserve the view of the Assumption Cathedral. At first, the palace was conceived without the upper tier and could be almost higher than the Trinity Tower. They came up with the idea of plunging it into the ground by almost 15 meters - this is the height of a five-story building. But, at the last moment, Khrushchev ordered to build a banquet hall from above, on the roof. And passers-by no longer see the golden domes of the Assumption Cathedral.
However, everyone admitted that the palace turned out to be majestic: gold, glass, white marble outside. Inside all possible colors are Armenian tuff, Karelian birch and gilded smalt. Finishing materials were brought from all over the country. Mosaic emblems of 15 sister republics in the main foyer were created by Alexander Deineka. They have been preserved in their original form.
“They restored it a little and left everything,” says Pyotr Shaboltai, general director and artistic director of the State Kremlin Palace, “although there were voices that pushed for it all to be removed: this, they say, is the past, why do we need it, the Soviet Union But it's all history and we've left it as it is."
The auditorium and the incredible technical capabilities of the Palace of Congresses at that time were especially amazing. The delegates of the XXII Congress of the CPSU were the first to see all this: cosmonauts and milkmaids, scientists and machine operators. The palace was built for the people.
“I greeted Voroshilov, greeted Budyonny. I kept thinking how everyone could drink tea or coffee during the break,” recalls Zoya Pukhova, a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
There were legends about the banquet hall of the Palace of Congresses. After all, only here a simple Soviet person could taste whipped cream and incredibly tasty julienne, and after that even walk along the observation deck right among the Kremlin domes. But out of harm's way, the Kremlin guards closed it almost immediately.
“We, he says, are responsible for each deputy of the Supreme Council. They are ordinary people. What if he drank too much, saw someone and shouts:“ Come here! ”, - he stumbles and falls ... No steps,” the designer explains Kremlin Palace of Congresses, Doctor of Architecture Andrey Gozak.
Alexey Novikov, an employee of the State Kremlin Palace, said that the podium from which they promised to build communism by 1980 is still the same. "Nothing changed on it, all our general secretaries supported it," he noted.
Few people know that under the stage of the Palace, the belfry, cast at the beginning of the 20th century and installed here during the construction for performances, was preserved, headed by a multi-ton evangelist.
The famous French chansonnier Charles Aznavour was just preparing for his farewell concert in Russia when Channel One asked him to say a few words about the Kremlin Palace. It turned out that for him it was not just a stage, but a part of life.
“At one time, the Soviet Union was a land unknown to us. And thanks to the fact that I spoke in this hall, the whole world learned about how the Kremlin has changed, and that Soviet people are the most ordinary people who love good music," said Charles Aznavour.
The whole last week there was something that the audience is never shown - exhausting rehearsals of the anniversary concert. After all, people have been coming here for half a century to see the front side of life.
A festive concert in honor of the 50th anniversary of the State Kremlin Palace, in which many stars took part, Channel One will show today. The beginning - right after the program "Time".
Address: Russia, Moscow, Moscow Kremlin
Start of construction: 1960
Completion of construction: 1961
Capacity: large hall up to 6000 people
Coordinates: 55°45"05.1"N 37°36"55.9"E
The underground part of the palace is deepened by 14 m, which corresponds to the height of a 5-storey building. The State Kremlin Palace and the Grand Kremlin Palace, which houses the office of the President of Russia, are interconnected by a system of ground crossings.
Outside, the building is faced with marble brought from the Urals, beautiful anodized aluminum and glass panels. Previously, a gilded coat of arms of the USSR was located above its entrance, and now the coat of arms of Russia is fixed at this place.
Palace facade
The huge palace consists of 800 rooms and corridors of various sizes, and it has 23 elevators and one large lift that can fit an entire car. Up to 1000 artists can be on the spacious stage measuring 40 by 23 m at the same time. In 2013, a complete modernization of the stage premises was carried out, and now they meet the most modern requirements.
The interior decoration of the Palace of Congresses is made of red karbakhti granite, patterned tuff from Baku and snow-white koelga marble. In addition, panels made of ash, oak, hornbeam, Pacific walnut and beech were used in decorating rooms and halls. Due to such a variety of decoration, the interior of the palace looks restrained and solemn.
The curtain for the stage is made of thin sheets of metal minted by craftsmen from the Art Fund of Latvia. And the armorial frieze in the main foyer is made of colored smalt according to the drawings of the famous Soviet artist Alexander Alexandrovich Deineka.
What can be seen in the palace
Nowadays, performances of the Kremlin Ballet Theater are shown on the stage of the palace. This theater group was founded in 1990, and the leading soloists of the Bolshoi Theater of the country danced in its first productions.
Today, musicians of the most famous Russian orchestras take part in the performances of the theater. The Palace of Congresses shows the classical ballets Macbeth, Ruslan and Ludmila, The Nutcracker, La Bayadère, Swan Lake, The Magic Flute, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle.
In addition, festivals of ballet, children's, student creativity, charity programs and creative evenings are held here. Eminent orchestras, choirs, chamber music groups, popular actors and famous soloists perform on stage. Jazz and rock are played here, author's and folk songs, popular music and romances are heard, and choreographic ensembles demonstrate their skills.
Every year, the main New Year tree of Russia is organized in the State Kremlin Palace. In the Soviet years, tickets for it were almost impossible to get, so they were distributed among the children of the nomenklatura and among the excellent students of Moscow schools. The performances from the Christmas tree were broadcast on television, and gifts for the participants were packed in beautiful plastic boxes made in the form of the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin.
Reflection Arsenal
Useful information for visitors
The ticket offices of the State Kremlin Palace are located near the Kremlin, on the street. Vozdvizhenka, 1. They work every day, seven days a week, from 12.00 to 20.00.
You can only enter the Kremlin through the checkpoints. Ticket entry to the Palace of Congresses starts 1 hour 45 minutes before the start of the concert or performance. Backpacks, briefcases, packages and bulky luggage are not allowed into the building. If there is such luggage, it must be left in a paid storage room, which is located on the territory of the Alexander Garden.
It should be borne in mind that during events inside the palace it is not allowed to use mobile phones, video cameras and cameras.
The State Kremlin Palace is the most prestigious and best in Moscow. It began to be called that way in 1992, earlier the building was called the "Kremlin Palace of Congresses". Brief address:
Brief characteristics
The Palace is located on the territory belonging to the residence of the President of Russia. ranked among the best in the world. Its capacity is six thousand people. Huge sizes do not suppress, but create a feeling of comfort and balance. The stage area is 450 square meters, it is equipped with all necessary equipment. In addition to the main one, the Palace has a Small Hall, otherwise it is called the Reception Hall. Most often, it hosts chamber concerts, performances by performers of jazz and classical music.
The Kremlin Palace of Congresses has its own restaurant, which can accommodate from six hundred to a thousand people at a banquet, while a buffet table can accommodate up to two thousand guests.
A bit of history
The idea of building the building belonged to Khrushchev, the chief secretary of the Central Committee. It was decided that the Kremlin Palace of Congresses should be erected for the XXII Congress of the Communist Party, which was scheduled for the autumn of 1961. Until they gathered at the Bolshoi Theater or in the old Kremlin Palace. Nikita Sergeevich agreed only to the Kremlin for holding high events, no other place suited him. It was decided to build a chic Palace, which would be designed specifically for holding important, crowded events. The place chosen for this is the old Armory in the Empire style, built at the beginning of the 19th century by Egotov. Before that, buildings of the court of Tsar Boris Godunov stood at this place. Near the old Armory there was a whole chain of old Russian cannons, headed by the Tsar Cannon. All of them were moved towards the Arsenal to the captured French guns.
Construction
Before starting the construction of the facility, they produced in this place which made it possible to replenish the history of Moscow.
The best architects took part in the creation of the building project: Shchepetilnikov, Posokhin, Stamo, Mndoyants, Shteller. As well as engineers: Kondratiev, Shkolnikov, Lvov, Melik-Arakelyan.
Initially, the hall of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses was designed for four thousand seats. In the project, it was divided into three fronts (facade, foyer, meeting room), each one was handled by a specific group of architects. Subsequently, many for this project received the Lenin Prize.
Under the influence of Chinese colleagues, who rebuilt the Palace of Congresses in Beijing for ten thousand seats, it was decided to expand the building. It was planned to create a hall with a capacity of six thousand people. At the same time, a banquet hall for 2500 people was designed. The scheme of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses indicates that the newly increased volume was "hidden" underground, to a depth of fifteen meters. Additional floors appeared, where spectator wardrobes were placed.
Opening of the Palace
Construction lasted only sixteen months. In such a short time it was necessary to complete the task. During the construction, the old officer barracks from the time of Nicholas I were destroyed, while a whole brigade operated. The grand construction required strict discipline and great responsibility. Even for a small oversight, there was a chance to part with the party card and even freedom. The Kremlin was built with state money, no expense was spared for it.
The discovery took place in October 1961. The chic party palace impressed everyone with its luxury and grandeur. The facade was decorated with white Ural marble and golden anodized aluminum. The main entrance was crowned with the coat of arms of the USSR, decorated with gilding. Later in the course of history, it was replaced with the Russian coat of arms.
Karbakhty red granite, Baku patterned tuff, koelga marble, various expensive wood species were used for interior decoration.
One of the difficult constructive tasks was that the new building had to properly fit into the appearance of the Kremlin. It was decided that the Kremlin Palace of Congresses should be coordinated with the building of the Arsenal. For this, the Palace was deepened 15 meters into the ground, which made it possible to distribute more than eight hundred rooms in the building.
Kremlin Palace of Congresses - how to get there?
The Kremlin Palace is a landmark in the capital that does not need a special broad introduction. It is located in the very heart of Moscow - on the territory of the Kremlin. This makes it quite accessible for visiting tourists and just spectators. It is the State Kremlin Palace that is the main and most prestigious stage in Russia. It hosts important events, concerts of the most prominent Russian and world stars.
The largest flow of visitors is always observed on the New Year holiday, because it is here that the All-Russian Kremlin New Year tree is held. Entrance to the Kremlin Palace is strictly by passes and tickets.
You can enter through There is a checkpoint, as well as a left-luggage office. You can get to the territory of the Kremlin by passing the Trinity Bridge, the Trinity Tower and the gates of the same name.
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