Theatres and concerts

The Cultural Capital of Russia has much to offer in the way of entertainment to meet anyone’s taste.

Lovers of classical art will no double be glad to take the opportunity of visiting famous theatres and concert halls of Saint Petersburg. Russian opera and ballet have been enjoying world renown for over 100 years. Lovers of symphonic music are sure to enjoy the performance of academic orchestras led by famous conductors.Music festivals occupy a special place in the Saint Petersburg’s cultural life. The biggest and best known is the international art festival “Stars of the White Nights” held since 1993 on the initiative of Valery Gergiev, a conductor of international repute.Drama theatres are represented in all the variety of genres, performed on a level worthy of the traditions of Russia dramaturgy. Our city is rich in theatrical traditions - you can see everything from musicals to tragedies in more than 50 theatres and studio theatres of the city.Your visit to Russia will be incomplete without a visit to a folklore show. The best professional groups of our country, having up to 100 participators each, will perform for you the masterpieces of Russian folk art.

The Mariinsky Theatre
(formerly the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre)

It is one of the biggest and oldest music theatres in Russia and is famous all over the world. In 1860 the performance of M. Glinka’s opera ”Life sacrificed to Tsar” marked its inauguration. The theatre was named after the wife of Alexander II. Operas and ballets written by the great Russian composers were staged in the theatre.
Valery Ceorgiev, one of the best orchestra conductors in the world, is now the Chief Producer of the theatre. If you go to the opera you will certainly enjoy splendid singing, magnificent costumes and scenery, and a brilliant orchestra.

The Opera and Ballet Theatre named after M. P. Musorgsky
(the Maly Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre)

The second largest musical theatre in St. Petersburg.
The theatre is famous for being the first to stage the works of modern composers. The building that houses the theatre is called Mikhailovsky to honour the brother of Emperor Nicholas I (1833). Works by S. Prokofiev, D. Kabalevsky, D. Shostakovitch, R. Shchedrin were staged for the first time.
Today the current programme includes classics of world opera and ballet: ”Swan Lake”, ”Nutcracker”, ”Don Quixote”, ”Boris Godunov”, ”Romeo and Juliet”.

The Hermitage Theatre

The Hermitage Theatre is the oldest theatre in St. Petersburg. It was opened in 1785 as the court theatre for Catherine the Great. All the European and Russian repertoire of the XVIII century was performed on this stage.
After the death of Catherine II in 1796 performances ceased. All the attempts to revive the theatre in the XIX century failed. Up to the early 1980s the Hermitage Theatre housed the Hermitage Lecture-hall, while other premises were occupied by museum departments, laboratories and storage rooms. In 1989 after reconstruction and restoration, the Hermitage Theatre was opened again.
Now the famous stars of the Russian ballet perform here.

The Alexandrinsky Theatre
(Drama theatre named after A. S. Pushkin)

It is the oldest professional theatre in Russia. The building was constructed to the design of K.Rossi in 1832, being one of the architectural masterpieces among theatres of the 19th century. The theatre was named after the wife of Emperor Nicholas I (Alexandra). At the beginning, ballet, opera, drama and vaudeville performances were delivered in the theatre. Currently the Theatre is rebuilding its reputation. Though considered a drama theatre, it stages ballet, opera and musical comedy again. Grand ballet seasons have been organised on this stage for many years.

Tovstonogov Bolshoy Drama Theatre

One of the leading drama theatres in Russia, performing Russian and world classics.
In summer the theatre devotes its stage to the performances of ballet.

The Opera Hall of the Conservatoire named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov

In this hall, opened in 1923 many eminent singers, musicians and conductors first revealed their talents. 

The Shostakovitch Philharmonic Hall (Big Hall)

The oldest music centre in Russia, and one of the biggest.
The Philharmonic Society was founded in 1921.
At the present time the Philharmonic Society comprises two symphony orchestras. Such world famous conductors and musicians as E. Mravinsky, K. Zanderling, D. Oistrakh, E. Svetlanov, Y. Temirkanov, S. Richter and M. Rostropovitch have performed in the Big Hall.
On August 9, 1942 the Chief Symphony Orchestra directed by K. Eliasberg played the Shostakovitch’s Seventh Symphony here.

Folklore show

Lyrical joyful Russian dances, choir masterpieces will open up for you the deep soul of the Russian people. Words fail to express the deep impression created by the beautiful figures, swift movements and virtuoso performances including the smooth, gliding dances of the girls, and the remarkable jumps and pirouettes of the men dancers. All the dancers act their parts with their own individualities.
One of the most important elements in dance is the costume. It helps to bring to the spectators the idea of the choreographer, making the image of each person more expressive, contributing to a finer perception of each dance.
You may also enjoy the famous Russian songs ”Katiusha”, ”Kalinka” and ”Moscow Suburb Nights”, being accompanied by a big orchestra of Russian national instruments.
All groups, performing for you, had unique success not only in Russia, but all over the world.
Summing up,without a doubt,the impression made by the folklore shows can only be described as ”a fairy tale”.