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Theatres of the St. Petersburg. Theatres of the St. Petersburg. Sightseeing of St.Petersburg.

TOURS TO THE CITIES OF RUSSIA

PLACES TO VISIT IN ST.PETERSBURG

ST. PETERSBURG THEATRES

Dramatic art became an integral part of the city environment. ' All genres are flourishing here. You can find ballet and opera, musical comedy and drama, symphonic music, variety, folk and jazz music, many types of puppet-shows, music hall, and circus.

The hub of St. Petersburg culture with its universalism that combines artistic and aesthetic values of Russia and the West is Mariinsky Theater. Before every performance its luxurious auditorium is lit up with camera flashes - the visitors take shots to bring home the moments they spent in the most beautiful theater of the world. In the middle of the 19th century ballet of Mariinsky Theater was the world leader. And it is still the leader now. Such great ballet dancers as Anna Pavlova, Matilda Kshesinskaya, Olga Spesivtseva, Vatslav Nizhinsky, Galina Ulanova performed on this stage. The names of today's prominent ballet dancers like Ulyana Lopatkina, Altynay Asylmuratova, Diana Vishneva, Svetlana Zakharova, Farukh Ruzimatov, Igor Zeiensky, are well known in the world. They all dance on the most prestigious stages. Mariinsky Theater is often called The House of Petipa, since the theater keeps the traditions of the great choreographer. The theater's repertoire still includes such masterpieces as Sleeping Beauty, Baiaderka, the Swan Lake, Raymonda, along with the ballets of the 20th century masters, like George Balancin, John Neumeyer, Morris Begara and Jerome Bobbins. Opera troupe of Mariinsky Theater will show you the works from the golden fund of both Russian and foreign classical opera. The artistic director of the theater, Valery Gergiev efficiently cooperates with the world biggest opera teams like Covent Garden, La Scala, and Opera de Bastille. You can see works of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, and Mozart on the playbills of the theater. Titanic efforts of Gergiev to put on stage the Wagner's tetralogy "The Ring of Niebelung" is worth real admiration.

The second important opera and ballet stage of the city is the Theater named after Modest Mussorgsky with its vast classical repertoire.

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society has two magnificent auditoriums. The Large (Bolshoy) Hall is in the building of the former Nobleman's Assembly, the Small (Maly) Hall is situated in the ancient building in Nevsky Avenue, where concerts and fancy-dress balls were held from the end of the i8th century. The Symphonic Orchestra of the Philharmonic Society is headed by one of the most eminent conductor Yuri Temirkanov. Incontestable authority of Maestro, high professional level of the orchestra, special atmosphere, and ideal acoustics attract many famous musicians. It is a real honor for a musician to perform in St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society.

St.Petersburg Choir is the oldest musical establishment of the city founded in 1703. The Choir is famous through its magnificent hall where world leading musical troupes perform. Hermitage Theater with its exquisite interiors is also very popular.

There are many famous theaters in the city. The crowd of drama-lovers fills the auditoriums of Alexandrysky Theater and Bolshoy Drama Theater named after George Tovstonogov. Some troupes are well known outside Russia. It is worth noting that the second name - The House of Europe -was given to Maly Drama Theater headed by Lev Dodin.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

MARIINSKY OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE
The opera and ballet house was named after Maria, the wife of Alexander the 2nd, and opened on October 2, 1860. The first performance was Glinka’s, The Life for the Tsar. However, the St. Petersburg opera and ballet company appeared a long time before that. Its history goes back to 1783, when Empress Elisabeth issued a ‘high decree’ that a Russian opera and ballet company should be established in St. Petersburg. That was the year that was considered the first season of the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet House, although it was almost a hundred years later that the company got a building of their own. The magnificent decoration of the house mainly remained unchanged to the present day. With its snow-white sculpture, soft shining of the gilded decorations, blue seats and curtains, this opera house probably has the most lyrical air in Europe. Mariinsky Opera and Ballet House was the home of many generations of great musicians and ballet dancers. To the present day its performances work like a magnet on all opera and ballet lovers, combining perfection, high skill and inspiration.
Teatralnaya Square, 1 Metro: Sadovaya/Sennaya Ploshad
Performances start at 11.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.
MUSORGSKY OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE
The building of the Emperor’s Mikhailovsky opera house was built in the 1830’s upon the design of architect A. P. Bryullov. C. Rossi designed the facade of the building. At the moment, the opera and ballet company is famous not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Iskusstv Sq. 1 Metro: Gostiny Dvor/Nevsky Prospect
Performances begin at 12 am and 7 pm.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE OF THE ST. PETERSBURG CONSERVATOIRE
This opera company began the Russian operatic tradition. The ballet company is also brilliant.
Teatralnaya Square, 3 Metro: Sadovaya/Sennaya Ploshad
Performances begin at 7 pm.
THE HERMITAGE THEATRE
One of the best palace theatres in the city. Although the theatre was intended for the royal family only, it is quite capable to house bigger audiences and is a good competition of many Russian and Western theatres.
Dvortsovaya Emb. 34
ST. PETERSBURG OPERA CHAMBER MUSIC THEATRE
Marata St. 4

DRAMA THEATRES

PUSHKIN (ALEXANDRINSKY) DRAMA THEATRE
The history of the theatre began on the day when Empress Elisabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, signed the decree to found a theatre where tragedies and comedies would be performed. The name of the theatre was given by Nicholas the 1st to honor his wife Alexander. The theatre houses 1,102 spectators.
Ostrovskogo Sq. 1 Metro: Gostiny Dvor
Performances begin at 7 pm on weekdays and at 6 pm on Sat and Sun.
TOVSTONOGOV BIG DRAMA THEATRE
St. Petersburg’s leading drama theatre, unique repertoire, and a famous school of acting.
Fontanka Embankment, 65 Metro: Gostiny Dvor
Performances begin at 7 pm.
LENSOVET THEATRE
Vladimirsky Prosp. 12 Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya
Performances begin at 12 am., 2 pm and 7 pm.
MALY DRAMA THEATRE (THEATRE OF EUROPE)
Rubinsteina St. 18 Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya
Performances begin at 7 pm.
KOMISSARZHEVSKAYA DRAMA THEATRE
Italyanskaya St. 19 Metro: Gostiny Dvor
Performances begin at 7 pm.
ST. PETERSBURG STATE DRAMA THEATRE ON LITEINY
Liteyny Prosp. 51 Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya
MOLODEZHNY THEATRE ON THE FONTANKA
Fontanka Emb. 114
Performances begin at 7 pm.
YOUNG SPECTATORS’ THEATRE
Pionerskaya Sq. 1
BUFF THEATRE
Narodnaya St. 1

COMEDY

AKIMOV COMEDY THEATRE
Nevsky Prosp. 56 Metro: Gostiny Dvor
Performances begin at 11.30 am and 7 pm.
MUSICAL COMEDY THEATRE
Italyanskaya St. 13 Metro: Gostiny Dvor
THE COMEDIANS
Ligovsky Prosp. 44