While the final act must still play out in a Russian courtroom, the story opens in the nearly two-century-old Bolshoi Theatre.

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Bolshoi theatre staff - including dancers as well as choir, orchestra and stage members - said Mr Dmitrichenko's confession had seemed forced.

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In the Mariinsky's place Ms Hochhauser invited the rival Bolshoi for a sold-out and critically triumphant season of popular opera and ballet.

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The incident is widely assumed to have taken to a new level the infighting and rivalries that the Bolshoi theatre has become notorious for - and has shocked people in Russia.

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Historically, the Bolshoi's role in the cross-current has mainly been to export talent.

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It could take Filin at least six months to recover from the third-degree burns to his face and eyes, RIA Novosti cited Yekaterina Novikova, a Bolshoi spokeswoman, as saying.

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Nevertheless, Bolshoi Theater opened to a packed house of elite politicians, businessmen, celebrities and some well-known opera singers on Oct. 28.

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The 42-year-old said he was sure the aim of the attack was to "remove me as the Bolshoi's artistic director for a long period, and to damage the reputation of the Bolshoi Ballet".

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