Reopening of Bolshoi Theatre delayed again

A reopening date for Russia's Bolshoi Theatre has been postponed once again, with a Culture Ministry spokesperson saying that renovations to the iconic venue might not be complete for another few years.

Repairs of the Bolshoi's 19th-century main stage "will take longer than expected and might not be finished until the beginning of 2011," Natalya Uvarova, spokeswoman for Russia's Culture Ministry, told Agence France-Presse.

The famed theatre, home to musical performances and the Bolshoi Ballet, closed in 2005 for a massive renovation and update, a project estimated to cost approximately $700 million US.

Originally slated for completion in late 2008, the theatre's complex revamp has been plagued by delays and criticized for skyrocketing costs. In February, Russian officials announced that the reopening was postponed until Nov. 1, 2009.

The latest delay "is explained mainly by the ground quality, which made it necessary to reinforce the foundations further," Uvarova said.

Originally founded by Catherine the Great in 1776, the Bolshoi Theatre has been at its current site since 1825. There has been little renovation since then, save for an interior revamp after a fire in 1856.

Initiatives to upgrade the facility — especially to repair the visibly cracked main stage façade, and improve the lack of backstage and storage space — were often shelved over the years because of a lack of funding or disputes over the restoration plans.

Organizers have said hundreds of workers are involved in the renovation effort.