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).
Mariinskii Opera House. MARIINSKY THEATER (named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna), an opera and ballet theater in St. Petersburg. Opened in 1860 with a production of the opera A Life for the Tsar by M.I. Glinka in the building of the Circus Theater on Theater Square, rebuilt in 1859 ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
MARIINSKII OPERA HOUSE- 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 ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
MARIINSKII OPERA HOUSE- (named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna), Opera and Ballet Theater in St. Petersburg. Opened in 1860 with a production of the opera Life for Tsar M.I. Glinka in the building of the Circus Theater on Theater Square, rebuilt in 1859 (reconstructed in 1968 1970). One ... ... Russian history
Mariinskii Opera House- (see the Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov). Saint Petersburg. Petrograd. Leningrad: Encyclopedic reference book. Moscow: Great Russian Encyclopedia. Ed. collegium: Belova L. N., Buldakov G. N., Degtyarev A. Ya. and others. 1992 ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)
Mariinskii Opera House- Mariinsky Theatre, see the Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"
Mariinskii Opera House- opened in 1783 in St. Petersburg as the Stone (Bolshoi) Theater, since 1860 in a modern building (architect A.K. Kavos), at the same time it received its modern name; in 1919 1991 State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, since 1935 named after S. M. Kirov ... encyclopedic Dictionary
Mariinskii Opera House Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Mariinskii Opera House- in St. Petersburg. opened 2 Oct. 1860 by the resumption of the opera Life for the Tsar. Rebuilt by the architect A.K. Kavos from the circus theater that burned down in 1859. Recently (1894-96) the theater has been overhauled. Significant work to improve… … Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
Mariinskii Opera House- see the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater ... Music Encyclopedia
Mariinskii Opera House- MARIINSKY THEATER, see the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater ... Ballet. Encyclopedia
Books
- Bolshoi Theater Culture and Politics New History, Volkov S. The Bolshoi Theater is one of the most famous brands in Russia. In the West, the word Bolshoi does not need to be translated. Now it seems like it's always been that way. Not at all. For many years the main musical ... Buy for 848 rubles
- Big theater. Culture and politics. New History Volkov Solomon. The Bolshoi Theater is one of the most famous brands in Russia. In the West, the word Bolshoi does not need to be translated. But it wasn't always like that. For many years, the main musical theater of the empire was considered ...
Theaters have taken an important step in the history of the formation of the culture and traditions of Russia. Among the significant and outstanding theaters and a unique historical and architectural landmark of the country has become the Mariinsky Theater. Art connoisseurs have always considered him to be one of the best. Many historians, architects, and even ordinary citizens are interested in the history of the creation of the Mariinsky Theatre.
It is rich in events and deserves attention. The date of foundation and the beginning of the existence of the Mariinsky Theater is considered to be 1783, when, on the direct order of Catherine, it was decided to open the Bolshoi Stone Theater on Theater Square, at that time it was called Carousel Square.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, in 1859, the Circus Theater built just opposite the famous Bolshoi Theater was, unfortunately, completely destroyed, the cause was a severe fire. Instead of the burnt building, a new building was erected - the building of the now famous Mariinsky Theater. It received the name not by chance, it was customary to call it the Mariinsky. This name was given to him for good reason - in honor of Empress Maria Alexandrovna (wife of Alexander II).
In this theater, the first theatrical season opened a little later only in 1860. A little later, it was decided to rebuild it, and the entire repertoire was transferred to the stage of the Mariinsky Theater.
Each era in history has left its historical imprint. During the revolutionary period, the theater changed its name to the State, and since 1920 it was renamed the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. But the renaming of the theater did not end there either - in the mid-thirties (1935) it was named after the famous revolutionary Sergei Kirov.
Modern Mariinsky Theater
At the moment it includes three operating sites:
— the main platform is the building of the theater on Teatralnaya;
– the second stage was opened in 2013;
- the third stage - the Concert Hall, open on the street. Decembrists.
Over the years of its existence, a huge number of unique works have been staged on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. It was possible to buy tickets for the Nutcracker ballet, enjoy the magnificent production of Sleeping Beauty, Peter Grimes, etc.
In total, over thirty operas and 29 ballets were staged on its stage during the years of the twentieth century. This is a very high figure. The best composers and artistic directors of the country found their inspiration here. Today, a huge number of professional actors work here - real aces of theatrical art.
It should be noted that the Great Patriotic War left a huge unpleasant imprint in the history of the theater itself. In addition to material damage, the theater team lost about three hundred artists, who, unfortunately, died at the front.
Many guests from other states came to the country to see the unique play of talented actors. Every year the theater hosted many people wishing to see the famous "Mariinsky" performances.
Many artists participating in popular and well-known productions even today have received special thanks and awards.
Let's hope that such buildings as the Mariinsky Theater are no longer threatened with cardinal changes. Due to the small funding from the state, the actors have to connect to the development of the repertoire. Every year we can observe that the efforts of our ancestors were not in vain - the stage of the Mariinsky Theater presented a fairly large number of outstanding actors and opera performers.
K: Theaters founded in 1783Story
On November 9, 1917, with the change of power, the theater, which became the State, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Commissariat of Education of the RSFSR, in 1920 it became academic and since then it has been fully called the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (abbreviated GATOB). In 1935, shortly after the assassination of the first secretary of the Leningrad Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, Sergei Kirov, the theater, like many other organizations, enterprises, settlements and other objects of the USSR, was named after this revolutionary.
Ballet
Orchestra
Management
Artistic director and director - Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, laureate of the State Prizes of the Russian Federation Valery Abisalovich Gergiev. James Cameron
Press
- Alexey Konkin.. "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" - vol. No. 5320 (241) dated October 25, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- Maria Tabak.. RIA Novosti (02.08.2011). Retrieved February 22, 2011. .
- . RIA Novosti (19.01.2011). Retrieved February 22, 2011. .
- . Retrieved February 22, 2011. .
- . RGRK "Voice of Russia" (13.07.2010). Retrieved February 22, 2011. .
- (unavailable link - story) . Encyclopedia "Circumnavigation". Retrieved September 24, 2011. .
Links
- . Official site.
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 during 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 glad 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 repertory 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; 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
