The Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg is one of the world-class stage venues. Its visit is an important point of the tourist program of stay in the Northern capital of Russia. The official website of the Mariinsky Theater helps to get acquainted with the theater's repertoire and book tickets for performances in advance.
Empress Catherine II is considered to be the ideological founder of the theatre. By her order, a theater troupe was organized, performing in the premises of the Moscow Conservatory. In 1783, the building of the circus theater on Carousel Square (later changed its name to Teatralnaya) was opened. As a result of the fire, the old building burned down. The new theater was commissioned to build the Italian architect Alberto Cavos. The troupe was under the patronage of the imperial family, therefore it received the name of the wife of Emperor Alexander II - Maria Alexandrovna. The opening of the Mariinsky Theater was marked by the premiere performance of Glinka's opera A Life for the Tsar.
At the end of the 19th century the interior has been changed. The architect V. Schroeter significantly supplemented the theater complex with premises with workshops and dressing rooms. The stage was converted for choreographic performances. After the establishment of the power of the Bolsheviks, the Mariinsky Theater was transferred under the care of the Commissariat of Education. During the Great Patriotic War, the troupe was evacuated beyond the Urals. In Perm, the artists continued to stage performances and returned to Leningrad after the blockade was lifted. At the beginning of the 21st century The Mariinsky Theater has new stages in St. Petersburg and branches in other cities. From the end of the 80s. the artistic director is the conductor V. Gergiev.
Reenactments and first performance
On October 2, 1860, the first performance was given in the building of the Mariinsky Theater. For the premiere, they chose Mikhail Glinka's patriotic opera A Life for the Tsar. She became the "calling card" of the famous St. Petersburg theater. However, historians believe that G. Paisiello's opera "Lunar World" should have the title of the 1st production.
The main building of the Mariinsky Theater has undergone several renovations:
- in 1802-1803 (designed by Thomas de Thomon) layout and appearance changed
- 1968–1970 (designed by Salome Gelfer) the left wing of the building was enlarged, the removal of crystal fragments embedded in the walls disturbed the acoustics of the hall
Return of historical name
After the establishment of Soviet power in 1917, the name of the theater was abolished. They began to call him the State. In 1919, the team was awarded the title of Academic. In the 30s. in memory of S. Kirov, the theater was awarded the right to bear his name.
Twice the theater troupe was awarded honorary orders:
- Lenin (1939)
- October Revolution (1983)
In January 1992, the Leningrad Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet named after S. M. Kirov received its historical name - Mariinsky.
Venues
The Mariinsky Theater has 6 stages. They are located in different cities of the Russian Federation:
- St. Petersburg -3 (main and second stages, concert hall)
- Vladikavkaz - 2 (Opera and Ballet Theater and the Philharmonic of North Ossetia)
- Vladivostok - 1 (seaside)
Main building of the Mariinsky Theater
Mariinka -1, where the main stage of the famous theater is located, is an old building of the 19th century. Its project was developed by the architect A.K. Kavos and supplemented by V.A. Schreter at the end of the 19th century. The case is made in the style of classicism. A turret rises above the domed top.
The interior decoration strikes with luxury and splendor of decoration. The hall, foyer and hall are decorated with sculptures, moldings, and wall paintings. Authors of paintings:
- E. Fracioli
- A. Golovin
The drawing of the curtain on the stage corresponds to the texture of the imperial train of Maria Alexandrovna. It is the emblem of the Mariinsky Theatre.
The hall is designed for 1609 seats. Stage dimensions:
- width - 30 m
- depth - 20 m
- height - 24-25 m
Second scene
Mariinsky-2 was created specifically for the needs of the theater and in accordance with modern technical requirements. Its parameters are:
- hall capacity - 2 thousand people
- area - 80 thousand sq.m
- floors - 7
Architects from Russia, Canada, Great Britain, Austria worked on the project and improvement of the internal space. The audience seats in the hall are arranged in several tiers. The central position is occupied by a box for guests of honor (analogous to the Royal box). The stage is equipped with technical means that allow you to quickly change the scenery. The depth of 80 m allows you to create a powerful acoustic effect. The second stage was opened to the public in 2013.
Concert Hall (third stage)
Mariinka-3 was created on the basis of pre-revolutionary workshops for the production of scenery. The building was built in accordance with the sketches of the architect V. Schroeter. At the beginning of the 21st century it was completely destroyed in the fire.
The new premises were developed by a tandem of specialists:
- architect K. Fabre (France)
- Toyota engineer (Japan)
The concert hall is designed for vocal and symphonic performances, as well as audio recordings. Its main characteristics:
- volume -1.3 thousand cubic meters
- capacity - 1110 seats
- length - 52 m
- width - 24 m
- height - 14 m
In 2009, a French-made organ was installed in the premises. The building is a monument of urban planning and is included in the list of objects of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation.
seaside scene
The most remote stage of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater is located in the Far East region. It is located in the Opera and Ballet Theater in Vladivostok. The new building was being built for the APEC summit. Design work was carried out by specialists from Omsk.
The building has 2 halls:
- Large - in the form of a horseshoe for 1,356 seats. Designed for large-scale events and gala concerts.
- Small - with a single-level stage and stalls, designed for 305 seats. For chamber performances, master classes.
During construction, preference was given to natural materials (wood, stone), which contributed to the creation of a powerful acoustic effect. The building is also equipped with equipment for the needs of people with special needs (ramps, elevators). The opening of the Primorsky Stage took place in 2013.
National Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
The building of the North Ossetian Opera and Ballet Theater in Vladikavkaz (Tkhapsaev St., 18) has been the stage of the Mariinsky Theater since 2017. The complex of premises along the Terek bank was designed by the architect I.V. Ryabikin in 1910. Construction work was carried out in the 50s. under the guidance of architect T. M. Butaeva. The building has been declared a national treasure of republican significance.
The hall simultaneously accommodates 680 people. Scene:
- width - 14 m
- height - 12 m
North Ossetian State Philharmonic
Since 2017, the Mariinsky Theater has been renting the building of the North Ossetian Philharmonic. For 10 years, artists from St. Petersburg will be able to perform stage activities in the premises of the former Lutheran Cathedral, located at the address: Vladikavkaz, Miller St. 34. The German church (19th century) was transformed into a cultural and educational institution in 1944. In 2015-16 The building has undergone a major overhaul. The historical appearance of the building has remained unchanged.
Classical heritage in the repertoire
The stage of the Mariinsky Theater has become famous in the history of the theatrical art of Russia as a venue for the premiere performances of the classics of the ballet and opera genre. In the 19th - early 20th century. the artists of the Mariinsky Theater were involved in the first productions:
- ballets - "The Little Humpbacked Horse", "Golden Fish", "Sleeping Beauty", "Raymonda", "Chopiniana", "Petrushka"
- operas - A Life for the Tsar, Ruslan and Lyudmila, Mermaid, Stone Guest, May Night, Snow Maiden, The Night Before Christmas, Boris Godunov, Maid of Orleans, Enchantress ”, “Queen of Spades”, “Iolanta”, “Prince Igor”
During the Soviet period, the creative baggage of the theater troupe was replenished with performances imbued with a revolutionary spirit and meeting the requirements of socialist realism. However, the classics were not forgotten. The annual playbill of the Mariinsky Theater necessarily includes, along with the premieres, productions that the audience has loved from the past repertoire. The stage of the Mariinsky Theater still shows Swan Lake, Giselle, Carmen, etc.
Troupes
The creative team of the theater includes 2 troupes:
- ballet
- operatic
The ballet troupe originated at the end of the 18th century. Its backbone was made up of court dancers, graduates of the French dance school under the direction of J. Lande. In the 19th and 20th centuries renowned choreographers collaborated with the Mariinsky Theater artists:
- Sh. L. Didlo
- M. Petipa
- W. Meyerhold
- V. Vainonen
- L. Jacobson
- S.Kaplan
The names of outstanding dancers are inscribed in the history of the theater - Vaclav Nezhinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov. The glory of Russian ballet was claimed and supported by ballerinas - Matilda Kshesinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Galina Ulanova. Until the beginning of the 19th century. mostly foreign artists performed on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. In the 30-40s. 19th century a Russian opera troupe is gradually being formed. The theater's repertoire was constantly replenished with new operas by European and Russian composers, which contributed to the expansion of the troupe and the involvement of artists with exceptional singing skills.
- Osip Petrov
- Fyodor Chaliapin
- Medea and Nikolai Figner
- Sofia Preobrazhenskaya
- Leonid Sobinov
The troupes include artists with the titles of honored and people, laureates of national and international competitions.
Festivals
The artistic group of the Mariinsky Theater takes an active part in cultural events organized in the city on the Neva. Since 1993, on the initiative of V. Gergiev, the Stars of the White Nights art festival has been regularly held in the northern capital. It has an international status, has highly recommended itself at the world level and is included in the Top 10 musical concert programs of the classical genre.
During the festival, the most famous performers and ensembles perform on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater, presenting novelties in the field of symphonic and chamber music, opera and ballet. Stars of the White Nights helps new talents to open up and establish close partnerships between theater companies. Residents and guests of the city have the opportunity to get to know the national art and cultural heritage of other countries within the framework of the festival.
The theater stages host a number of genre festivals:
- ballet "Mariinsky"
- orchestral wind music Brass Evening at the Mariinsky
- contemporary music "New Horizons"
Theatrical productions from the repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater are constantly included in the festival programs of the Moscow Easter and Maslenitsa. The theater management pays great attention to introducing the younger generation to the masterpieces of world classics. Especially for children and youth, the Mariinsky Theater organizes:
- festival of children's musical theater-studios
- art schools visiting the theater
- Children's and youth orchestras "Mariinsky NEXT"
Opening hours and ticket prices
It was opened in 1783 in St. Petersburg as the Stone (Bolshoi) Theatre, since 1860 in a modern building (architect A. K. Kavos), at the same time it received its modern name; in 1919 1991 State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, since 1935. S. M. Kirov, since 1992 ... ...
- (Petersburg) (in 1914 24 Petrograd in 1924 91 Leningrad), a city in the Russian Federation, the center of the Leningrad Region. St. Petersburg is the most important industrial, scientific and cultural center of Russia. A major transport hub (railway, highways) … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (b. 1961) Russian ballet dancer, Honored Artist of Russia (1983). Since 1978 at the Opera and Ballet Theatre. Kirov (now the Mariinsky Theatre). Performer of the leading parts of the classical repertoire: Odette Odile (Swan Lake), Giselle (... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
Books
- Mariinsky Ballet: View from Moscow, Tatyana Kuznetsova. This book is a stage portrait of a Petersburg troupe seen through the eyes of a Muscovite. Here are the performances that the theater presented as hits of its seasons from 1997 to 2012:…
- Big theater. Culture and politics. New history, Solomon Volkov. A living, unorthodox history of the interaction between politics and art, government and society, the Tsar and the Theater. The Bolshoi Theater is one of the most famous brands in Russia. In the West, the word Bolshoi is not ... audiobook
- Theater of Opera and Ballet named after S. M. Kirov,. The book-album is dedicated to the Leningrad Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov, which has now returned its historical name - the Mariinsky Theater. The history of this theater is in…
The building of the Mariinsky Theatre.
The Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg is a large-scale theatrical and concert complex that has no analogues in the world.
For more than two hundred years of history, the Mariinsky Theater has given the world many great stage figures - conductors, directors, brilliant decorators. Artists who honed their skills in the Mariinsky Theater troupe achieved worldwide fame: Fyodor Chaliapin, Matilda Kshesinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Vatslav Nizhinsky, Galina Ulanova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and many others.
High positions of world recognition are maintained today. One of the winners of the prestigious award of the influential New York magazine Dance Magazine 2017 was the prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater Diana Vishneva.
History and general information
The history of the theater begins at the end of the distant 18th century, when on December 5, 1783, the Bolshoi Theater was solemnly opened on Carousel Square, which became known as Theater Square in his honor. The stone building, designed by Antonio Rinaldi, was repeatedly reconstructed and rebuilt as the city grew and its appearance changed in accordance with the architectural fashion of those times.
In the first half of the 19th century, the Bolshoi Theater became one of the most popular attractions in St. Petersburg. It owes its ceremonial and festive appearance to the creative genius of the architect Tom de Thomon, then to the architect Alberto Cavos, the son of the composer and bandmaster, who restored it after grandiose fires and changed its proportions and dimensions in accordance with the requirements of the time.
The "golden age" of the Bolshoi Theater falls precisely on this period, when the operas of Weber, Rossini, Alyabyev's vaudevilles are performed with great success on its stage. The birth of the glory of Russian ballet is associated with the legendary Charles Didelot, who led the St. Petersburg theater school. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin becomes a regular at the theater.
A significant event was the premiere of Mikhail Glinka's first national opera A Life for the Tsar on November 27, 1836. Exactly 6 years later, on the same day, the premiere of the second opera by the Russian composer Ruslan and Lyudmila took place. These two dates forever inscribed the Bolshoi Petersburg Theater in the history of Russian culture.
The fire of 1859 opens a new page in history. Like a “Phoenix bird” from the ashes of a burned-out circus theater located opposite the Bolshoi, a new theater is being revived according to the project of A. Kavos, which is named Mariinsky in honor of the wife of Emperor Alexander II - Maria Alexandrovna. And again, M. Glinka's opera "A Life for the Tsar" appears before its first audience on October 2, 1860.
In 1886, the building of the St. Petersburg Conservatory was built on the site of the Bolshoi Theater, and by this time all performances were transferred to the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. The building of the Mariinsky Theater was repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed from 1885 to 1894. Under the guidance of the architect of the imperial theaters, Viktor Schroeter, the facade of the building acquires monumentality, the interior spaces are expanded, the acoustics of the hall are being improved, the side wings, the power station, and the boiler room are being completed.
The Imperial Mariinsky Theater continued the traditions of the first musical stage, developed and strengthened its key positions in theatrical culture. With the arrival of Eduard Napravnik as Kapellmeister in 1863, an entire era is associated, marked by the premieres of operatic masterpieces. "Boris Godunov" and "Khovanshchina" by M. P. Mussorgsky, "The Snow Maiden" by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, "Prince Igor" by A. P. Borodin, "The Queen of Spades" by P. I. Tchaikovsky and others - went down in history Russian opera music and still go on the stage of the theater.
Ballet on the theater stage.
Here the choreographer Marius Petipa had a happy meeting with the great composer P. I. Tchaikovsky. The collaboration resulted in two wonderful ballets The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, while Swan Lake was given a second life in Petipa's production.
Ballet on the theater stage.
During the Soviet period, the theater was declared state (1917) and named after S. M. Kirov (1935).
The repertoire is updated with modern operas by S. Prokofiev "The Love for Three Oranges", "Salome" and "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss, the drama ballets "The Flames of Paris" by B. Astafiev, "The Red Poppy" by R. Gliere and many other productions are successfully performed.
During the Great Patriotic War, the theater was evacuated to Perm, and on September 1, 1944, it re-opens the season, according to tradition, with M. Glinka's opera Ivan Susanin (the post-revolutionary title of the opera A Life for the Tsar).
An important creative stage in the development of the theater is associated with the activities of Yuri Temirkanov, who headed it in 1976. His productions of P. I. Tchaikovsky's operas "Eugene Onegin" and "The Queen of Spades" are still in the repertoire.
In 1988, Valery Gergiev became the chief conductor of the theatre. Under his leadership, the Mariinsky Theater returned its historical name (1992) and is implementing a number of large-scale projects.
Classical music lovers tend to visit the Concert Hall, opened in 2006, which received the unofficial name Mariinka-3. Built on the site of a theatrical scenery warehouse that burned down in 2003, the hall is one of the best concert venues in the world. Japanese Yasuhisa Toyota, a world-class specialist, was invited to create acoustics, and a group of designers led by Mikhail Shemyakin performed the interior design. The combination of two facades in one building - historical 1900 and modern - symbolizes the connection of times. In an unusual auditorium, made in the form of a cradle, the stage is located in the middle, and the seats for spectators are around it in the form of terraces.
The stage of the concert hall of the Mariinsky Theatre.
The most grandiose project is the opening of a new theater stage (Mariinsky-2) on the Kryukov Canal embankment opposite the old building in 2013. At first glance, the building of glass and metal does not fit into the image of St. Petersburg. However, according to Jack Diamond, the author of the project, his idea was to create a modest backdrop for the old building of the Mariinsky Theater.
Facade of the new building of the Mariinsky Theatre.
In fact, a plain facade hides a dazzling interior. The best traditions of the 18th century are embodied in the design of a large auditorium with 2,000 seats, curved in the shape of a horseshoe. The acoustics of the hall is such that viewers from the most remote places can clearly hear the quietest notes. The two-level foyer is lined with onyx and marble, one of the stairs, 33 meters high, is made of unique glass and connects all levels, and Swarovski chandeliers fill the space with warm, mesmerizing light.
Architecture and interesting facts
The multi-figured silhouette of the ancient building of the Mariinsky Theater, built in the neoclassical style, impresses with its beauty and monumentality. There are 1625 seats in the auditorium. Everything here is unusual: from the blue color of the walls and the blue velvet of the chairs to the design of the curtain, which repeats the pattern of the dress of Empress Maria Alexandrovna. A crystal chandelier, made in 1860 from 23,000 pendants, illuminates a ceiling with portraits of playwrights surrounded by 12 nymphs and cupids. Undoubtedly, the theater is currently in need of repair, and the audience can only hope that it will be carried out with care and will not deprive the interior of its unique historical charm.
Interesting facts related to the Mariinsky Theatre:
- During the operas "Boris Godunov" and "Khovanshchina" the audience hears the ringing of a real bell, which is located behind the stage. During the struggle against religion, the bell was thrown from the church and drowned in the Kryukov Canal, later it was taken from the bottom and presented to the theater.
- From the royal box, a hidden door leads to the dressing rooms. According to legend, the heir to the throne, Nikolai, used a secret passage to visit a young dancer Matilda Kshesinskaya, a friend of his youth.
- In the 1970s, reconstruction was carried out, the builders found a layer of broken crystal under the orchestra pit. Only when the fragments were thrown away did it become clear that this layer had the function of improving acoustics.
- Speaking of acoustics. It is best to listen to opera from the third tier, but it is preferable to watch ballet from the first.
Where is it located and how to get there
- The main building is located at the address: Theater Square, 1.
- Mariinka-2 is located on Dekabristov Street, 34.
- Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theater (Mariinka-3) - Pisareva Street, 20 (entrance from Dekabristov Street, 37).
The nearest metro is a transport hub of three stations: Spasskaya, Sadovaya and Sennaya Ploshchad. Then walk for about a kilometer.
Or public transport stop "Mariinsky Theater" (buses 2, 3, 6, 22, 27, 50, 70; fixed-route taxis 1, 2, 6K, 124, 169, 186, 306).
1917-1967
The State Academic Mariinsky Theater is the oldest Russian musical theater. He plays an outstanding role in the history and development of classical and Soviet opera and ballet art.
Opera performances were staged in St. Petersburg throughout the 18th century, but the date of foundation of the theater is considered to be 1783, when performances began to be shown in the so-called Stone Theater (later it was rebuilt for the conservatory). The building, which now houses the theater, was built in 1860 by the architect A. Kavos.
As before, so now the formation and replenishment of the troupe is carried out mainly from among the graduates of the oldest educational institution - the St. Petersburg Conservatory, founded in 1862, and the ballet school, founded in 1738, now called the Academy of Russian Ballet named after A. Ya. Vaganova .
The activities of a brilliant constellation of representatives of Russian musical culture have been associated with the Mariinsky Theater throughout its two-century history. These are the conductors A. Cavos, K. Lyadov, E. Napravnik; directors O. Palechek, G. Kondratiev; choreographers Sh. Didlo, M. Petipa, L. Ivanov, A. Gorsky, M. Fokin; artists K. Korovin, A. Golovin, A. Benois. Its stage was decorated with performances by famous singers O. Petrov, I. Melnikov, F. Komissarzhevsky, E. Zbrueva, E. Mravina, N. Figner, L. Sobinov, F. Chaliapin. The glory of the Russian ballet owes much to A. Istomina, A. Pavlova, T. Karsavina, V. Nijinsky, N. Legat.
On the stage of our theater for the first time the brilliant creations of the classics of Russian music were performed: Ivan Susanin (1836) and Ruslan and Lyudmila (1842) by Glinka, Dargomyzhsky’s Rusalka (1856), Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Maid of Pskov (1873), Boris Godunov" by Mussorgsky (1874), "The Maid of Orleans" (1881), "Mazeppa" (1884), "The Enchantress" (1887), "The Queen of Spades" (1890) by Tchaikovsky, "Prince Igor" by Borodin (1890). Many masterpieces of world opera classics, including Rossini's Barber of Seville (1822), Mozart's Don Giovanni (1828), La Traviata (1868), Rigoletto (1878) and Otello (1887) by Verdi for the first time were performed in Russian by the Mariinsky Theatre. Especially for this theater, Verdi wrote the opera The Force of Destiny (1862). The theater was famous for its performances of Wagnerian operas, especially for the stage performance of the entire tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen (1900-1905).
Ballet art also flourished on this stage in productions of The Sleeping Beauty (1890), The Nutcracker (1892), Swan Lake (1895) by Tchaikovsky, Raymonda (1898) by Glazunov, and Chopiniana (1908). These performances have become the pride of the Russian and world ballet theater and to this day do not leave the stage.
A new stage in the history of the theater, which took the path of genuine service to the people, began only after the Great October Revolution.
From the first days of the establishment of Soviet power, state and party organizations have shown great concern for the creative life and living conditions of the huge theater team. In 1920 it received the name of the Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. In 1935, he was named after S. M. Kirov, an outstanding figure in the Communist Party and the Soviet state. Large amounts are annually allocated from the state budget to create the necessary conditions for the creative work of the theatre. It is important that the pension issue has been resolved, and artists who have worked for 20-30 years (depending on their specialty) are provided with a pension. Vacancies are used to attract new talented performers to the troupe.
It is very important to note that while protecting the great and progressive traditions of Russian classical music, the creative team of the theater, its outstanding artists increased the glory of their famous predecessors.
Creative collaboration with Soviet composers B. Asafiev, Y. Shaporin, D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev, R. Gliere, T. Khrennikov, O. Chishko, A. Krein, V. Solovyov-Sedym, A. Petrov. K. Karaev, I. Dzerzhinsky, D. Kabalevsky, V. Muradeli, A. Kholminov and many others determined the most important ideological and artistic achievements of the theater, its constant desire to gain a foothold in the positions of the art of socialist realism.
V. Dranishnikov, A. Pazovsky, B. Khaikin, who held the post of chief conductor for many years, play an exceptionally large role in translating the score into full-fledged highly artistic musical stage works. And next to them - S. Yeltsin, D. Pokhitonov, E. Mravinsky, E. Dubovsky.
In the post-revolutionary years, directors Vs. Meyerhold, S. Radlov, E. Kaplan. Most of the theater's repertoire and a lot of work on mastering the realistic style of acting are due to the activities of L. Baratov, I. Shlepyanov, E. Sokovnin as the main directors.
A. Vaganova, whose role in the history of choreographic pedagogy can hardly be overestimated, entered bright pages in the annals of the theater's ballet troupe; choreographers F. Lopukhov, V. Vainonen, V. Chabukiani, L. Lavrovsky, B. Fenster. Their talent as a choreographer was revealed in an interesting and deep embodiment of the best performances of the permanent repertoire. The closest creative associates of the directors, conductors and choreographers were the artists V. Dmitriev, F. Fedorovsky, S. Virsaladze, S. Yunovich, whose scenery and costumes in such performances as Boris Godunov, The Legend of Love, Ivan Susanin , "The Tsar's Bride", etc., organically merged with the music and its interpretation.
For several decades, the fruitful work of the outstanding singers I. Ershov, P. Andreev, R. Gorskaya, V. Kastorsky, S. Migai, M. Reizen, S. Preobrazhenskaya, V. Slivinsky, G. Nelepp, O. Kashevarova, I. Yashugina, N. Serval, K. Laptev, A. Khalileeva, L. Yaroshenko; outstanding ballet soloists E. Luc, M. Semenova, G. Ulanova, O. Jordan, N. Dudinskaya, F. Balabina, T. Vecheslova, V. Chabukiani, K. Sergeev, S. Kaplan, G. Kirillova, N. Anisimova , A. Shelest, I. Belsky, V. Ukhov and others.
The presence of such creative forces in the composition of the theater made it possible to carry out tireless work to preserve the best examples of opera and ballet classics and to introduce more and more new musical and stage works into the repertoire. It is significant that in the period from 1924 to 1967 the theater staged 63 new operas and ballets by Soviet composers. The best of them have become part of the permanent repertoire for many years. T. Khrennikov's opera "Into the Storm" was shown 74 times, "The Family of Taras" by D. Kabalevsky - 72, "Decembrists" by Y. Shaporin - 86; ballets: "The Fountain of Bakhchisaray" by B. Asafiev - 386 times, "Laurencia" by A. Crane - 113, "Romeo and Juliet" by S. Prokofiev - 100, "The Bronze Horseman" by R. Gliere - 321, "Spartacus" by A. Khachaturian - 135 times. Firmly entered the repertoire and more "young" performances, such as "Taras Bulba" by V. Solovyov-Sedogo, "Stone Flower" and "Cinderella" by S. Prokofiev, "The Legend of Love" by A. Melikov, "Leningrad Symphony" to music D. Shostakovich, "The Fate of a Man" by I. Dzerzhinsky.
Preparing for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution, the theater developed a three-year plan, which included works by Soviet composers and classics of Russian and foreign music.
The operas “October” by V. Muradeli, “The Tale of a Love” by D. Tolstoy, “Optimistic Tragedy” by A. Kholminov, his “Anna Snegina”, “Peter Grimes” by the modern English composer B. Britten, “The Tsar's Bride” have already been staged N. Rimsky-Korsakov, "The Magic Flute" by W. Mozart, "Gunyadi Laszlo" by the classic of Hungarian music F. Erkel. The last ballet premiere was "Wonderland" by the Leningrad composer I. Schwartz; work on the ballet "Goryanka" by the Dagestan composer M. Kazhlaev is close to completion. We expect a lot from the creative collaboration with the composers D. Shostakovich, I. Dzerzhinsky, M. Matveev, N. Chervinsky, V. Veselov. Their work is the near future of our scene.
The repertoire of the theater is great. It includes 36 operas and 29 ballets. We are happy to think that out of 65 performances, 28 operas and ballets are written by Soviet composers.
In order for this large repertoire to be brought to a high artistic level and capture the auditorium, it is necessary to provide each of the numerous "workshops" of our "production of artistic values" with highly qualified management and an appropriate composition of performers. The chief conductor of the theater is one of the largest conductors in the country, People's Artist of the USSR Konstantin Simeonov; the chief director is Roman Tikhomirov, widely known for his work in the musical theater and cinema, Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR; chief choreographer - a famous choreographer, in the past an outstanding ballet soloist, People's Artist of the USSR Konstantin Sergeev; the choir is led by an experienced master - Honored Artist of the RSFSR Alexander Murin; People's Artist of the RSFSR Ivan Sevastyanov is the chief artist of the theatre.
No matter how highly we appreciate the work of the leaders of all sections of the theater's artistic activity, for the spectators who fill the theater hall every evening, the face of the theater is determined primarily by the performers. People's Artist of the USSR B. Shtokolov, People's Artists of the RSFSR G. Kovaleva, R. Barinova adequately represent the artistic level of the illustrious troupe; honored artists of the RSFSR V. Atlantov, V. Kravtsov, I. Novoloshnikov, T. Kuznetsova; soloists L. Filatova, V. Morozov, I. Bogacheva, L. Morozov, V. Kinyaev, S. Babeshko, M. Chernozhukov, V. Malyshev, A. Shestakova, K. Slovtsova, E. Krayushkina, V. Toporikov; famous ballet soloists, People's Artist of the USSR I. Kolpakova; People's Artists of the RSFSR K. Fedicheva, A. Osipenko, Yu. Solovyov; honored artists of the RSFSR V. Semenov, S. Vikulov, I. Gensler, O. Zabotkina; soloists N. Makarova, O. Sokolov, E. Minchenok, K. Ter-Stepanova and others.
The work of People's Artists of the RSFSR V. Maksimova, I. Zubkovskaya, N. Kurgapkina, N. Krivuli, I. Alekseev, I. Bugaev, B. Bregvadze, A. Makarov in the theater should certainly be noted; Honored Artists of the RSFSR L. Grudina, V. Puchkov, N. Petrova, O. Moiseyeva and others; conductors D. Dalgat, V. Shirokov, choreographers L. Yakobson, Yu. Grigorovich, I. Belsky; tutors N. Dudinskaya, T. Vecheslova, S. Kaplan; choirmaster B. Shinder.
The theater pays great attention to the growth of young artists. Young people make up a third of our troupe. Therefore, youth reviews and systematic introductions of young performers to opera and ballet performances are regularly held. We are pleased with the success of young artists O. Glinskaite, M. Egorov, G. Komleva, P. Bolshakova. V. Afanaskov, V. Budarin, D. Markovsky, L. Kovaleva, E. Evteyeva, conductor V. Fedotov and choirmaster L. Teplyakov. Recently, the theater hired a young talented choreographer O. Vinogradov and accepted a talented, promising dancer M. Baryshnikov into the troupe.
The theater orchestra is represented by highly qualified artists, including many laureates of international and all-Union competitions. Currently, it is one of the best orchestral groups in the country.
The choir, which consists of one hundred artists, is distinguished by its purity of order, ensemble character, and clarity of diction.
Of the mass groups, it is necessary to note our corps de ballet, which rightfully deserved the high appraisal of the audience in our country and abroad.
The preparation and holding of performances require not only the participation of representatives of the musical and choreographic professions, but also a huge work of the artistic and production part and workshops. Experienced masters work here - make-up artists, costumers, props, lighting. installers, etc. For many years they were led by the oldest specialists N. Ivantsov (in the theater), A. Belyakov (in the workshops). Now the staging part is headed by F. Kuzmin, and the theater workshops are headed by B. Korolkov. It is also necessary to note the set designers N. Melnikov, S. Evseev, M. Zandin, who have worked in the theater for many years.
The theater named after S. M. Kirov is one of the largest in the country, its team without theater workshops has more than 1000 people. In the difficult task of organizing the production and creative process, covering all aspects of the life of the theater, the departments of opera, ballet, the repertory and literary part, the planning department, and the audience organization group take part. The former directors of the theater V. Aslanov, V. Bondarenko, G. Orlov and the former heads of the director's department V. Krivalev and A. Picard left a good memory for themselves.
A significant role in establishing the principal lines of development of the theater's repertoire policy, in solving the most complex creative issues is played by the artistic council of the theater, which includes the chief conductor, People's Artist of the USSR K. Simeonov, the chief director, Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR R. Tikhomirov, and the chief artist, People's Artist of the RSFSR I. Sevastyanov, chief choreographer, People's Artist of the USSR K. Sergeev, chief choirmaster, Honored Artist of the RSFSR A. Murin, head of the repertoire and literary part T. Bogolepova, leading soloists, People's Artists of the USSR B. Shtokolov, I. Kolpakova; People's Artists of the RSFSR G. Kovaleva, R. Barinova, K. Fedicheva, Yu. Solovyov; soloists of the orchestra O. Barvenko, L. Perepelkin, A. Kazarina; teachers-tutors People's Artist of the USSR N. Dudinskaya, Honored Artist of the RSFSR S. Kaplan, representatives of creative unions - composers B. Arapov, V. Bogdanov-Berezovsky, M. Matveev, artist S. Dmitrieva and others.
The team is closely connected with the broad masses of the audience. During 1966 alone, about 600,000 people visited the theater and visiting performances.
In 1940 the theater successfully took part in the Decade of Leningrad Art in Moscow; in 1965 he had a big tour in the capital of our Motherland. The performances, held at the Bolshoi Theater and the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, were attended by 140,000 spectators. In 1964-1966, over 700,000 spectators attended the performances and concerts of our artists in Greece, Italy, England, Belgium, France, the USA and Canada. Many spectators of the GDR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary attended the performances of the leading soloists of our theater. Thus, over the past years, the theater has widely promoted Soviet art among spectators of the Soviet Union and foreign countries, who highly appreciated its performances.
For merits in the development of Soviet art in 1939, the theater was awarded the Order of Lenin. A large group of workers over the past years has been awarded orders of the Soviet Union, sixty-six theater workers have been awarded the honorary titles of People's Artists, Honored Artists, Honored Artists, ten have been awarded the title of laureates of State Prizes, twelve have been awarded badges of the Ministry of Culture "For excellent work." For successful participation in competitions, sixty artists received the title of laureates of international and all-Union competitions.
Many artists and other theater workers were awarded military orders of the Soviet Union and the medal "For the Defense of Leningrad". Defending the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, about 300 theater workers died on the fronts and during the defense of Leningrad.
At present, the team is doing a lot of patronage work in the units of the Soviet Army. For active participation and good results under the patronage of the theater, the challenge red banner of the USSR Ministry of Defense was transferred for storage. Sixty-five artists were awarded the honorary badge "Excellence in Cultural Patronage over the Armed Forces of the USSR." The theater carries out significant work on cultural patronage at the enterprises of the city and in the countryside of the Leningrad Region.
Not to rest on our laurels, to persistently solve the ideological and creative tasks put forward by modernity, to participate with our art in the struggle for building a communist society, for the rise of musical culture - this is the path along which the theater moves, inspired by the great ideas of Lenin's party, which led the country and people to a significant 50th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
P. I. Rachinsky. Theater of Great Traditions and Searches, 1967
History of the Mariinsky Theater It is counted from the Bolshoi Theater founded by decree of Catherine II in 1783, which was located on the site of the current Conservatory (Teatralnaya Square in St. Petersburg). In 1848, the outstanding architect A. Kavas, a prominent representative of late classicism, erected the building of the Mariinsky Theater. The name of the theater is associated with the name of the wife of Alexander II, Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
The first performance at the theater took place on October 2, 1860. It was an opera by M.I. Glinka "Life for the Tsar". The Mariinsky Theater hosted the premieres of such masterpieces of Russian classics as Ruslan and Lyudmila, Boris Godunov, Khovanshchina, operas and ballets by Tchaikovsky were staged and presented to the audience. At the Mariinsky Theater, Aida, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen and others were staged for the first time on the Russian stage.
The theater became the center of the cultural life of St. Petersburg. In the period from 1883 to 1896, under the leadership of V. Schroeter, a Russian architect of German origin, the theater was reconstructed, mainly the auditorium. The auditorium of the Mariinsky Theater is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is decorated with a luxurious three-tiered chandelier and a picturesque ceiling made by the painter Fracioli, gilded stucco decorations and sculptures, the famous curtain by the Russian artist, stage designer A. Golovin.
Listing the names of cultural figures associated with the state academic theater would take an infinite number of pages, let's name just a few of them: M. Petipa, F. Chaliapin, A. Istomina, E. Semenova, V. Nizhinsky, L. Sobinov, G. Ulanova, A. Pavlova, R. Nuriev. The Soviet period in the history of the theater was marked by the fact that in 1919 the "Mariinsky" - Mariinskii Opera House received academic status. In 1935 he was named after S.M. Kirov, which he wore until 1992. During the war, the theater was evacuated to Perm, where it held its performances. Currently, work is underway to create the second stage of the theater. The new building will be located next to the historic building, on the other side of the Kryukov Canal. The architect is the Frenchman Dominique Perrault. The artistic director and director of the theater is Valery Abisalovich Gergiev. His productions become a discovery for the world musical community. V. Gergiev is one of the outstanding conductors of the world today.
Historical places, sights in St. Petersburg:
