There are more than sixty theatres in St. Petersburg, representing a wide range of movements and genres: drama, comedy, opera, ballet, concert halls and philharmonic orchestras.
1887-1889
Architect: L. Benois
The Glinka State Academic Cappella was the first professional music institution in St. Petersburg in which Russian music developed. This historic Russian choir, founded in the fifteenth century in Moscow, moved to St. Petersburg at the time of the Cappella’s founding. Since 1810 the Cappella has been housed in a building complex on the Moika. The Cappella’s concert hall is considered one of the best in Europe for acoustics. The country’s first ballets and operas were staged here and the first philharmonic and Russian orchestras played here. Inside the Cappella’s walls, masters such as Bortnyansky, Glinka, Lvov, Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Lyadov and Arensky created their works, and the timeless creations of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Borodin, Mussorgsky, Glazunov, Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Sviridov were heard and continue to be heard in the Cappella. Nowadays the Cappella includes a choir, symphonic orchestra, academic institution and concert hall for 800 people with an antique organ.
Evening concerts begin at 7pm
Address: Nab. Reki Moiki 20
Tel.: (812) 314-10-34, 314-10-48
In 2009 St. Petersburg’s Jazz Philharmonic Hall will celebrate its twentieth anniversary. The hall came about as the result of the activities of world famous jazz musicians, composers and the People’s artist David Goloshekin. Today the Jazz Philharmonic Hall can be counted as one of the world’s elite jazz clubs. The best professional jazz musicians from Russia and the rest of the world come here to play. Famous local jazz musicians regularly play in the hall. Concerts take place in two halls: the large “Jazz Philharmonic Hall” which can seat 200 and has a dance floor, and the small “Ellington Hall” which can seat 40. “Jazz by Candlelight” and jamming sessions are held here, and all jazz movements are represented at the Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra from blues to contemporary trends. In the hall there is a bar and restaurant with an original jazz menu.
Concerts start from 7-8pm daily (except Mondays) and include two or three parts with an interval.
Address: Zagorodny Pr. 27
Tel.: (812) 764-85-65
www.jazz-hall.spb.ru
1832
Architect: C. Rossi
The legendary “Alexandrinka”, as it is often called, is the oldest national theatre in Russia and nowadays holds the title of the Pushkin Russian State Academic Drama Theatre. The theatre was founded in the time of Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. After the official opening in 1832 the theatre was named after the wife of Tsar Nicholas I. Over the course of two centuries the “Alexandrinka” was the main imperial theatre, the fate of the theatre being dictated by the tsars. Almost all Russian classics premiered here from “Woe from Wit” by Griboedov to plays by Ostrovsky and Chekhov. After reconstruction in 2000-2006 the “Alexandrinka” has become one of the best contemporary theatrical arenas. The theatre complex is included on UNESCO’s list of architectural monuments.
Morning performances begin at 12am and evening performances at 7pm, or 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays (7pm on the smaller stages). All performances are in Russian.
Address: Ploshchad Ostrovskogo 6
Tel.: (812) 710-41-03
www.alexandrinsky.ru
1859
Architect: A. Cavos
The Mariinsky Theatre is probably one of the most famous opera and ballet theatres in the world, on a par with the Bolshoi in Moscow, the Paris Opera and La Scala in Milan. The Mariinsky takes its history from the Bolshoi, which was founded by decree by Empress Catherine II in 1783. The Mariinsky Theatre, named after the wife of Emperor Alexander II, the Empress Maria Alexandrovna, appeared almost a century later in 1860. On its stages the first Russian opera was born, “A Life for the Tsar” by Mikhail Glinka. Today the repertoire of the theatre includes works from the “golden repertoire” of classical opera. In the nineteenth century the theatre was renowned not only for its plays but also for its balls, carnivals, and masquerade balls. The great Russian ballet master, Marius Petipa debuted on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre. Anna Pavlova, Mathilda Kshesinskaya, Olga Spetsivsteva, Vatslav Nijinsky and Fyodor Shalyapin were all accompanied by the Mariinsky’s troop of dancers. Many of these dancers took part during the famous “Russian Season” in Paris. A short time later Rudolph Nureev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Irina Kolpakova, Natalya Makarova and Galina Ulanova all became stars of the Mariinsky Theatre. During Soviet times the theatre was renamed the Leningrad State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Nowadays the theatre has readopted its original name and it is possible, as it always was, to see famous Russian ballet and opera stars performing at the theatre. The artistic director of the theatre is the renowned maestro Valery Gergiev.
Morning performances start at 11:30am and evening performances at 6:30pm
Address: Teatralnaya Ploshchad 1
Tel.: (812) 328-41-41
www.mariinsky.ru
“New ballet in spite of everything” – This is how the State Academic Ballet Theatre directed by Boris Eifman can be described. Its performance of “Master and Margarita” took place in communist Leningrad at a time when even the book was sold illegally. Nowadays it stages not only Russian but world ballet. Eifman’s ballets are exclusively theatrical, mixing reality with fantasy. Paradoxically, Eifman’s theatre has been awarded numerous prizes but still has no stage of its own. In January 2007 Eifman’s ballet version of Chekhov’s “The Seagull” premiered at the theatre.
Address: Ul. Lizi Chaikinoi 2
Tel.: (812) 232-02-35
www.eifmanballet.ru
1876-1878
Architect: L. Fontana
In February 2009 one of Petersburg’s most popular theatres, the Bolshoi Drama Theatre, will celebrate its ninetieth anniversary. Thanks to Georgy Tovstonogov, the Drama Theatre has become one of the leading theatre groups in the country. Actors such as E. Kapelyan, P. Luspekaev, I. Smoknunovsky, T. Doronina, O. Borisov and E. Lebedev have all graced its stage. The theatre’s repertoire includes works of Russian and world literature such as Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov,” Lermontov’s “Masquerade,” Ostrovsky’s “Artistes and Admirers” and plays by Schiller, Shaw and Shakespeare.
All plays are performed in Russian. Morning performances start at 11:30am and evening performances at 7pm.
Address: Nab. Reki Fontanki 65
Tel.: (812) 310-04-01
www.bdt.spb.ru
1912
Architect: G. Lyutsedarsky
The St. Petersburg Music Hall is the only active music hall in Russia. The theatre’s enormous building was constructed as the Nicholas II House of the People, and remains the largest theatrical building in the city. The theatre was formed in 1967 by the people’s artist Ilya Rakhlin, a famous director of theatre and variety performance. Nowadays the theatre’s repertoire is extraordinarily varied and includes shows, musicals, cabaret and even opera. The theatre also hosts guests from other theatres.
Evening performances start at 7pm.
Address: Alexandrovsky Park 4
Tel.: (812) 232-61-65, 233-09-24
www.musichall.spb.ru
1831-1833
Architect: A. Bryullov
The renowned St. Petersburg Mussorgsky State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet has a second historical name, the Mikhailovsky Theatre. This theatre was founded to hold chamber concerts for guests from the imperial family in 1833 by order of Emperor Nicholas I. The theatre derives its name from Prince Mikhail, the youngest son of Paul I. The theatre was opened in 1833 with the ballet “Love in a Tree.” In 2007 Elena Obraztsova became the artistic director of the theatre’s opera troop, while the ballet troop is directed by the famous Russian dancer, Farukh Ruzimatov. In 2008 the theatre will celebrate its 175th anniversary.
Morning performances start at 12am and evening performances at 7pm.
Children under 12 years of age are not permitted at evening performances.
Address: Ploshchad Isskusstv 1
Tel.: (812) 595-42-84
www.mikhailovsky.ru
1891-1896
Architect: V. Nikol
The St. Petersburg Conservatory is a unique theatre which shows ballet, opera, orchestra and choral performances. The theatre was designed as an opera studio in 1923. Masters such as Elena Obraztsova, I. Bogacheva, Y. Marusin, E. Mravinsky, Yury Temirkanov, Valery Gergiev and Boris Eifman began their careers on the Conservatory’s stage. In 1988, on the basis of this opera studio, the Conservatory’s musical theatre was created and within five years it had gained the status of State Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The theatre’s most popular performances are “Sleeping Beauty”, “Giselle” and “The Nutcracker”. Vocal and symphonic concerts, competitions and festivals are also held here.
Address: Teatralnaya Ploschad 3
Tel.: (812) 312-25-19
www.bolshoy-kamenny.spb.ru
The St. Petersburg Ballet on Ice is the only collective of its kind incorporating classical ballet into the art of figure skating. The artistic director of the ballet, Konstantin Rassadin, is a former soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre and pupil of Leonid Yakobson. The artists are dressed in classical costumes but perform complicated classical ballet on ice skates. Professional figure skaters also take part.
Tel.: (812) 315-20-75
The Hermitage Theatre came into being as the private theatre of Empress Catherine II. For this reason the architect Quarenghi designed the theatre in the style of an amphitheatre – no boxes, circles or parquet floor were necessary. The Empress did not even have a designated seat; instead a chair was carried in for each performance. During Catherine’s reign almost all European dignitaries were guests at the Hermitage Theatre. Nowadays the most famous ballet dancers from St. Petersburg and Moscow dance on the theatre’s stage.
Address: Dvortsova Nab. 34
Tel.: (812) 710-90-30, 579-02-26, 272-96-82
www.balet-spb.ru
www.hermitagemuseum.org
1834-1839
Architect: P. Zhako
The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall is the oldest in Russia. The hall was completed in 1839 as a venue for St. Petersburg’s Noble Assembly. The acoustically outstanding hall can seat 1500 and was the centre of St. Petersburg’s musical life in the middle of the nineteenth century. Famous musicians such as Liszt, Berlioz, Wagner, Mahler and Rubinstein have all performed here. On 12th May 1926 Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 premiered here and on 9th August 1942, during the blockade, his famous Symphony No. 7 was performed. The artistic director of the orchestra is Y. Temirkanov.
Address: Mikhailovskaya Ul. 2
Tel.: (812) 710-42-90
www.philharmonia.spb.ru
This hall for chamber concerts was opened on Nevsky Prospect in 1949. Some highly memorable events of Russia’s artistic life are associated with the hall, such as Russia’s first performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and concerts by Liszt and Rubinstein. Nowadays laureates of international competitions and winners of local festivals play in the hall. The Small Hall is considered one of St. Petersburg’s finest academic halls.
Address: Nevsky Pr. 30
Tel.: (823) 312-45-85
www.philharmonia.spb.ru
St. Petersburg’s circus is one of the most interesting in Russia. Circus performances here were popular with St. Petersburg’s inhabitants even in the 18th century. This was the first brick building constructed as a circus in Russia, which, even to this day, is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The idea for the circus came from the Italian circus trainer Gaetano Cinizelli, the head of a large circus family, who came to St. Petersburg on tour. In 2007 the St. Petersburg circus celebrated its 130th anniversary. Acrobats, clowns, jugglers, bears, tigers, monkeys and crocodiles are just some of the acts that can be seen here.
Address: Nab. Reki. Fontanki 3
Tel.: (812) 314-84-78
www.reserve.sp.ru/circus/
Architect: A. Shtakenschneider
The Nikolaevsky Palace was built for Grand Prince Nikolai Nikolaevich, the third son of Emperor Nicholas I. During the Soviet period the “Palace of Labour,” otherwise known as the “Palace of Trade Unions” occupied the building. Nowadays the “Feel Yourself Russian’ folklore show takes place in the palace. Two acts last 45 minutes each and during the interval a buffet of black and red caviar and champagne is served.
Open: 08am -11pm, shows begin at 6.30pm and 9pm
Address: Ploshchad Truda 4
Tel.: (812) 312-55-00, 571-71-10
www.folkshow.ru |
