Bolshoi Advice

[zhenya271]

Hello!

My daughter and I will be in Moscow for our Christmas holidays and want to see The Nutcracker at the Bolshoi. I hesitated to get tickets at the official site as we are still going through the visa process and now the only night (23DEC) that we would have been able to attend is sold out. I sent a request for tickets to a third party site, boxofficebolshoi and they are available for 23,000RUB, about $394each. I don't know if I should act now or wait for something better...My daughter's roommate is from Moscow and says her father knows a guy, but I'm wondering if I depend on someone else, we might miss out in the long run. So my questions for those in the those in the know: are there tickets out there, I should just keep looking? Or act immediately, it's The Nutcracker, at The Bolshoi during the Holiday season!

Thanks for any help!

 

[AxelAnnie]

Hello!

My daughter and I will be in Moscow for our Christmas holidays and want to see The Nutcracker at the Bolshoi. I hesitated to get tickets at the official site as we are still going through the visa process and now the only night (23DEC) that we would have been able to attend is sold out. I sent a request for tickets to a third party site, boxofficebolshoi and they are available for 23,000RUB, about $394each. I don't know if I should act now or wait for something better...My daughter's roommate is from Moscow and says her father knows a guy, but I'm wondering if I depend on someone else, we might miss out in the long run. So my questions for those in the those in the know: are there tickets out there, I should just keep looking? Or act immediately, it's The Nutcracker, at The Bolshoi during the Holiday season!

Thanks for any help!

He who hesitates is lost

 

[Winnipeg]

Depends on how you would be affected if you lost the money. Is it worth the risk? Only you can decide.

 

[Spun Silver]

I found this, FWIW (not much but I didnt read far into it).
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTop...office_bolshoi_org-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

 

[Tinami Amori]

Hello!

My daughter and I will be in Moscow for our Christmas holidays and want to see The Nutcracker at the Bolshoi. I hesitated to get tickets at the official site as we are still going through the visa process and now the only night (23DEC) that we would have been able to attend is sold out. I sent a request for tickets to a third party site, boxofficebolshoi and they are available for 23,000RUB, about $394each. I don't know if I should act now or wait for something better...My daughter's roommate is from Moscow and says her father knows a guy, but I'm wondering if I depend on someone else, we might miss out in the long run. So my questions for those in the those in the know: are there tickets out there, I should just keep looking? Or act immediately, it's The Nutcracker, at The Bolshoi during the Holiday season!

Thanks for any help!

Ok....
- there are "always" tickets sold by scalpers in front of the main doors, but you will pay much higher price and will have to take the seats that are available.
- most major events in Russia "hold back some tickets" for VIP's and "special people" and those who are will to pay "extra". If such tickets are not claimed few hours before the show, they sometimes go on sale.
- 3rd party sites do "reserve" a good block of seats, so they can sell them at a premium. If the tickets are not sold on their site, they still don't loose money, as "by special arrangement" with the box office the tickets go back on sale the day of the show.

"Why, and how the system is set up for scalpers, 3rd party sites, the ticket office to make extra money" - is another subject..

If the difference between the official price and "3rd party site" is around 50-100 USD, get the tickets! Scalpers charge more on the day of the show.

BUT!!! make sure the 3rd party site is LEGITIMATE..... Also, if you decide to buy tickets "at the door" ALSO make sure they are NOT "fakes".. The way to do it, is ask at the door someone to show you REAL tickets, look through them into the light, to see the "the texture of paper", the type of ink, the details and if it has embossed serial number (all Bolshoi tickets have "SN").

If you do it once or twice, you'll get a hang of it...

Here are official Russian instructions how to tell a Fake Ticket to Bolsho from Real One.
Real ticket for Bolshoi: Do google-translate - it works well for these instructions.
https://www.bolshoi.ru/visit/buyingnew/2/ticket/
http://bolshoytheatre.ru/kak-otlichit-originalnyj-bilet-ot-poddelnogo.html

 

[zhenya271]

I found this, FWIW (not much but I didnt read far into it).
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTop...office_bolshoi_org-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

Thank you! I actually found the site I used through trip advisor and the kind of reviews that people post there put me in panicky mode with their "once in a lifetime" type reviews.

 

[zhenya271]

Ok....
- there are "always" tickets sold by scalpers in front of the main doors, but you will pay much higher price and will have to take the seats that are available.
- most major events in Russia "hold back some tickets" for VIP's and "special people" and those who are will to pay "extra". If such tickets are not claimed few hours before the show, they sometimes go on sale.
- 3rd party sites do "reserve" a good block of seats, so they can sell them at a premium. If the tickets are not sold on their site, they still don't loose money, as "by special arrangement" with the box office the tickets go back on sale the day of the show.

"Why, and how the system is set up for scalpers, 3rd party sites, the ticket office to make extra money" - is another subject..

If the difference between the official price and "3rd party site" is around 50-100 USD, get the tickets! Scalpers charge more on the day of the show.

BUT!!! make sure the 3rd party site is LEGITIMATE..... Also, if you decide to buy tickets "at the door" ALSO make sure they are NOT "fakes".. The way to do it, is ask at the door someone to show you REAL tickets, look through them into the light, to see the "the texture of paper", the type of ink, the details and if it has embossed serial number (all Bolshoi tickets have "SN").

If you do it once or twice, you'll get a hang of it...

Here are official Russian instructions how to tell a Fake Ticket to Bolsho from Real One.
Real ticket for Bolshoi: Do google-translate - it works well for these instructions.
https://www.bolshoi.ru/visit/buyingnew/2/ticket/
http://bolshoytheatre.ru/kak-otlichit-originalnyj-bilet-ot-poddelnogo.html

Thanks, Tinami! I realized that the seats offered were pretty good, 3rd balcony, but 1st row, center, so I emailed back to see if they had anything else. I think the 3rd party site is way over 100USD at 400USD/ticket. They deliver to the hotel so I guess I won't even know until late December as to their credibility. Maybe I should contact the concierge, I'm sure they're familiar with them, it's in the Tverskoy District too.

 

[Tinami Amori]

Thanks, Tinami! I realized that the seats offered were pretty good, 3rd balcony, but 1st row, center, so I emailed back to see if they had anything else. I think the 3rd party site is way over 100USD at 400USD/ticket. They deliver to the hotel so I guess I won't even know until late December as to their credibility. Maybe I should contact the concierge, I'm sure they're familiar with them, it's in the Tverskoy District too.

If your hotel is reputable (not an apartment-rental or a hostle), and has a decent front desk and lobby, then concierge is trained to receive packages/deliveries and is familiar with theatre ticket deliveries, AND! can probably make a good recommendation (as concierges do direct visitors to the right businesses and sometimes get commissions). Do try contacting concierge. good idea!