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Mariinsky Theatre
 Mariinsky Theatre is second in importance among Russia’s theatres after the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow (though if you ask any St. Petersburg native, they would insist that Mariinsky is first, and arguably this rating has shifted back and forth throughout Russian history). It was built in 1860 and named after Maria, the wife of Alexander II. Between 1935 and 1992 it was known as the Kirov Theatre, after Leningrad’s communist leader.
The artistic development of the Mariinsky theatre is associated with performances (often premiers) of operas by great Russian composers such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and others, as well as foreign composers. The theatre has always had eminent conductors, and the stage was home for some of the world’s pre-eminent opera and ballet stars, including Shalyapin, Pavlova, Nizhinsky, Ulanova, and Baryshnikov.
The Mariinsky Theatre continues to uphold its rich tradition, with one of the world’s finest ballets and operas. When not performing at home, the companies tour many countries throughout the world. The best time to catch the company is during winter, when ballerinas such as Yuliana Lopatkina and Diana Vishneva grace the stage, hopefully accompanied by Farukh Rusimatov or Igor Zelensky.
As for opera, Wagner rules at present, but Verdi, Bizet, Mozart and Rossini are still staged. The best baritones are Victor Chernomortsev, Nikolai Putilin and Olga Borodina.
Tickets are expensive $70-$170
Address: 1Teatralnya Ploshchad
Website: www.mariinsky.ru
Mussorgsky Theatre
 The Mussorgsky Opera House is St. Petersburg’s second largest musical stage. This Theatre was originally named Mikhailovsky Theatre in honor of Emperor Nicholas I’s brother. It received its present name in 1989 followed an incredible staging of “Boris Godunov,” which promoted and renewed the theatre’s repertoire of Russian masterpieces.
Its apricot-and-silver auditorium is no less beautiful than Mariinsky and its repertoire includes many classic ballets such as Giselle, Les Sylphides, Swan Lake, Cinderella and operas like Prince Igor, La Traviata, Carmen, and The Barber of Seville.
Tickets $50-$100
Address: 1 Ploschad Iskusstv
Website: www.mikhailovsky.ru
Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory
Russia’s first advanced school of music, the first wooden building on the site of the Conservatory was used as a theatre, and in 1783 was replaced by the Bolshoi Kammeny (Large Stone) Theatre. In 1803, the drama troupe moved to the Aleksandrinsky Theatre, and the opera and ballet remained at the Kammeny. After a fire in 1818, the Kammeny fell into such a state of disrepair that it had to close its doors in 1886, after a last performance of Bizet’s Carmen. In 1896 its doors opened again as the Music Conservatory. Its founder was the noted composer Anton Rubenstein. Some of the graduates include Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.
Tickets $40-$70
Address: 3 Teatralnaya Ploshchad
Website: www.conservatory.ru
The Hermitage Theatre
It is one of the buildings of the Hermitage museum, built by order of Catherine the Great. The theatre auditorium is unique piece of classical palace architecture of the 17th century. It was designed a small court theatre with a seating capacity of 250 people, which was for the Emperor’s family and important members of the Imperial Court. The auditorium was designed to resemble an amphitheatre, with a small stalls area with three rows of seven seats for important guests. The walls and columns are decorated with marble and classical sculptures of Apollo and nine muses are placed in the niches.
These days musical festivals are organized and conducted in the Hermitage Theatre, with an important date in the calendar being the traditional performances by the graduating students of the famous Vaganova School of Ballet.
The ballet repertoire includes performances of” Giselle”and “Swan Lake”. Also in the Hermitage Theatre there are evenings of Gala-concerts, including the fragments of world-known ballets such as “ The Sleeping Beauty”, “Giselle”, “Raymonda”, “ La Sylphide”, “ La Esmeralda”, “ La Corsaire”, “Don Quixote”, “ Carmen” and many others
Price: $90
34, Dvortsovaya nab
Website: www.rus-ballet.com
Shostakovich Philharmonic Hall
The St. Petersburg Philharmonia, the oldest Philharmonia in Russia, is more than two hundred years old. Its history goes back to 1802 when the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society, the first one in Europe was created. It organized the world premier of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in 1824.
The building housing the Philharmonia was constructed for the St. Petersburg Assembly of the Noble.
Numerous renowned musicians of the XIX century performed here: Lizst, Berlioz, Wagner, Mahler, Rubinstein, and many others were among them. Many works of such exponents of Russian classical tradition as Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky were premiered here. Some great careers started here. Shostakovich’s First Sympony was premiered here in 1926.
Today The Shostakovich Philharmonic Great Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world. Traditional musical festivals such as Musical Spring in St. Petersburg, Musical Olympus, Stars of White Nights and Christmas Meetings in North Palmyra are held here every year
Address: 1 Ploshchad Iskusstv
Website: www.philharmonia.spb.ru
Folk show in Nikolaevsky Palace
This Palace was constructed for Emperor Nikolay I’s son, Grand Duke Nikolay. The naturally deep emotions of Russian folklore are certainly emphasized by the magnificent interior of this Palace. The “ Feel Yourself Russian” show which is staged here is a unique opportunity to experience the history and spirit of Russia.
The show starts with the dance group called “Reverence,” beautiful ladies in crinolines and their elegant cavalier, accompanied by the “Classica” string quartet. It is followed by a folk instruments ensemble”The Souvenir” in a performance of folk compositions, a Cossack song and dance company called “Maidan” which reproduces on stage Cossack songs and dances in their original form, and musicians of “ Naigrysh,” a folk instruments quartet performing versions of famous Russian tunes. In the intermission, refreshments include a buffet table of fruit, canapé with red and black caviar, ham, cheese, soft drinks, vodka, champagne and juice.
Price: $45 including refreshments
Address: 4 Pl Truda
Website: www.folkshow.ru
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