A performer was killed in an accident in the middle of an opera at Moscow’s renowned Bolshoi Theatre on Saturday evening.

A spokesperson for The Bolshoi, one of Russia’s most prestigious venues, said the fatal incident happened during a change of stage scenery in Sadko, an opera by composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

“The opera was immediately stopped and the audience was asked to leave,” the theatre told the Interfax news agency.

The Investigative Committee, the organisation that probes major crimes, said it was looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of the 37-year-old man. It did not confirm his identity.

Interfax cited a source who had told it that the performer was crushed by a ramp during a change of scenery.

Sources told the RIA and TASS news agency he had been killed by a “falling piece of decor”.

Related posts:

Ikea fined and ex-executive handed suspended jail term in spying case Israel-Gaza violence: First flare-up since ceasefire is a reminder of its fragility Electric chair executions halted as court says killers must get firing squad option At least 33 dead and more than 70 missing after severe floods in Germany and Belgium Inside the unprepared city that ‘has to change’ after devastating floods leave lives in ruin Flood deaths reach 170 as officials warn risk isn’t receding Several people killed and others injured in bow and arrow attacks in Norway Norway bow and arrow attacks that killed five ‘appears to be act of terrorism’, country’s security agency says Husband of Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop arrested on suspicion of her murder Austria to impose lockdown on all unvaccinated from midnight Austria imposes lockdown on unvaccinated citizens – as Europe becomes epicentre of pandemic Ireland introduces new COVID restrictions including midnight hospitality curfew as country battles fourth wave of infections