In a plain-speaking interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, the Bolshoi Theatre’s General Director, Vladimir Urin, talked about the impending challenges for not only his theatre but theatres the world over.

“I very much hope that we will resume operations in the new season. That is the best-case scenario. Considering the way this situation is developing, I am almost sure that no performances will be possible until the end of June; perhaps not even until the end of July.”

And the worst-case scenario?

I don’t want to get into it, because it’s scary even to predict what would happen if we don’t open in September. It could go as far as the destruction of the theatre.