MOSCOW (AP) - A fire broke out Tuesday evening at the Moscow State Conservatory, one of Russia's treasured artistic institutions and the venue for international music competitions and other musical performances.

Fire officials said 32 vehicles were at the scene to help extinguish the blaze, which had spread to cover some 1,600 square feet on the third floor. The fire was threatening to reach the attic of the 19th century building, located a few blocks from the Kremlin.

Russian television showed smoke spilling out from the conservatory's windows. Along with housing three concert halls, the conservatory has since 1866 been a music school, where Tchaikovsky once taught.

The first performance in the conservatory's large hall, which seats 1,800, was staged in 1901. Among the performers featured there have been Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, and it remains the venue today for international music competitions.