MARIINSKY OPERA HOUSE
In 1783 the Grand Stone Theatre has been established on the Theatre Square. This date is accepted as the Mariinsky Theatre's foundation date. It is considered second in importance among Russia's theatres, after the Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow.
The opera and ballet companies are famous the world over. The programme includes such classics as "Eugene Onegin", "Swan Lake", and "The Nutcracker", all by Tchaikovsky, and works by Mozart, Verdi and Rossini. Last season's premieres were Verdi's opera "Uon Carlos", the original version of Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty" and Wagner's "Lohengrin". The new season starts at the beginning of October. 1/2
Address: Teatralnaya Square, 1
Tel: 114-1211
 | Sadovaya |
MUSSORGSKY OPERA HOUSE
The theatre has been established in 1918 as an affiliate of the Mariinsky Theatre. It is most known for its premieres of pieces by contemporary composers, such as S. Prokofyev, D. Shostakovich, A. Khachaturyan, R. Schedrin and others. The theatre has created its own troupe during 1931-33. St. Peters burg's second largest musical stage, whose repertoire includes world classics of opera and ballet. Among the works in the programme arc Borodin's "Prince Igor", Verdi's "La Traviata", Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and Bizet's "Carmen". 20 October will see the premiere of a production of "Faust" by S. Caloche, based on Goethe's work of the same name.
Address: Square of the Arts, 1
Metro: Nevsky Prospect
Tel: 219-1978
| Nevsky Prospect |
MALY DRAMA THEATRE
The theatre's programme traditionally includes plays produced by the theatre's chief director, L. Dodin — "Play Without a Name", "The Possessed", "The Cherry Orchard", "The House", "Mumu", "Brothers and Sisters", "Claustrophobia" and "Gaudeamus". A recent addition to the repertoire is Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale", produced and directed by D. Donnelan. The theatre's latest premiere — "Chevengur", based on the novel by A. Platonov.
Address: Rubinshteina st.,18
Tel: 113 2028
| Vladimirskaya |
ALEXANDRINSKY THEATRE
Once Russia's leading theatre, a symbol of academe in its most direct sense. Recent popular productions include: "The Comedy of Our Life" by N. Ptushkina, A. Calibin's production of "The Marriage" by N. Gogol and Oscar Wilde's play "Lady Winder-mere's Fan", produced by A. Belinsky. Of particular interest to the audience will be an unusual musical entitled "P.S.". The new season opens on 10 October with the premiere of "Boris Godunov". Address: Ostrovskogo sq., 2.
Tel: 312 1545
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TOVSTONOGOV BOLSHOY DRAMA THEATRE
One of the best theatres in St. Petersburg, if not all Russia. It was founded in 1919 on the initiative of M. Gorky, A. Lunacharsky, A. Blok and M. Andreyeva. After the death of G.A. Tovstonogov, who has been the theatre's stage director from 1956 until 1989, the theatre was named after him in recognition of his merits and talent. Among the attractions arc Tom Stoppard's "Arcadia", directed by the Estonian Eimo Nuganen, "ART" by Y. Rcza, Strindbcrg's "The Father" and the theatre's latest premiere, Neil Simon's play "California Suite". In October, audience will see the first performance of Ostrovsky's "The Forest".
Address: Fontanka River Embankment, 65
Tel: 310-0401
| Sennsya Plochad |
KOMISSARZHEVSKAYA DRAMA THEATRE
The theatre was founded on October 18, 1942 and inherited both the building and Komissarzhevskaya's name (it was named after her in 1964). The theatre continued working throughout the blockade of Leningrad. Its first director has dedicated to her memory the staging of Maxim Gorky's play "Children of the Sun". The theatre is interesting for its good troupe and original repertoire. For decades this theatre did not depart from traditional dramatic forms and subjects, but its repertoire now includes bright, unusual plays which have become talking points for audiences and critics: "Suicide of Lovers on the Island of Heavenly Nets" by M. Tikamitsu, "The Lady with the Camellias" by A. Dumas, a new version of Shakespeare's tragedy "Richard III" and the theatre's latest premiere, "The Little Princess" by V. Olshan-sky, produced by T. Abrosimova.
Address: Italianskaya Street, 19
Tel: 311-3102
| Gostiny Dvor |
AKIMOV COMEDY THEATRE
The St. Petersburg State Academic Comedy Theatre named after Akimov Comedy Theatre Established in 1926 as the Theater of Satire, re-organised and renamed in 1935. The troupe has always been very talented, and the theater noteworthy for its ingenious performances. In 1989 the theatre has been renamed after its founder and first artistic director N.P. Akimov, who has made the theatre famous by his original comedy plays. The repertoire includes works by many famous playwrights, including "Passions a la Molicre", based on works by M. Bulgakov and by L-B. Moliere himself, Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest", directed by I. Makarov and a new production of Ostrovsky's famous play "After Dinner Comes the Reckoning". The new season's premiere is "Let's Take America!..,", based on "The Elephant" by A. Kopkov. The theatre celebrates its 70th birthday on 26 October.
Address: Nevsky Prospect, 56
Metro: Gostinny Dvor
Tel: 312-4555
Fax: 312-4555
| Gostiny Dvor |
COMEDIANS' THEATRE
In 1994 a new theatre was established on Ligovsky Prospekt, not far from Nevsky. The theatre's name, "Comedians" is not simply an indication of its genre, but a name used for the actors' profession in general before the word "actors" came into use in Russian. This name for the theatre is an expression of its professional credo. The theatre is above all an actors' theatre, acting is its main expressive instrument. Stages classical and modern vaudevilles and comedy. This season's productions include "Passions Italian-style" by E. de Filippo, "Vaudevilles the Thing!" by V. Sollogub and A. Lensky, "Wolves and Sheep" by A. Ostrovsky, "Count Nulin" by A. Pushkin, the theatre's latest premiere, "How Aptyrka Saved the Princess" by Sergey Kuchnev and a humorous folk show "The Village Passed by the Peasant". The first performance of "Chekhov on a Divan" by M. Berman is scheduled for the middle of November.
Address: Ligovsky Prospect, 44
Tel: 164-4803
| Plochad Vosstania |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV CONSERVATORY OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE Formerly the Conservatory's opera studio. N. Dolgushin's ballet production are particularly popular — "The Nutcracker", "The Sleeping Beauty" and "Giselle". Also of interest are W. Mozart's "Cost l''an Tutte" under the young German conductor 0. Weder and Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin". The new season will start on 1 October.
Address: 3 Teatralnaya Sq.
Tel:312 2519.
| Sadovaya |
TEATRO BUFFO
Cabaret in the "buffo" style for adults and children. The most interesting productions are: "Sherlock Holmes and the Queen of Bohemia" by I, Dovmont after V. A. Conan Doyle and V. Pleshak's musical "The Great Schemer". A presentation entitled "A Jolly Evening" can be seen in the "Buffo Plus" lounge. The most recent new productions are buffo comedy for adults "The Circus has Gone, but the Clowns Remain" and the musicals "Casanova in Russia" and "The Temptation of Jeanne".
Address: Narodnaya st.,1
Tel: 446 6767.
| Lomonosovskaya |
MUSICAL COMEDY THEATRE
The Theatre of Musical Comedy has been founded in 1929. Originally, the performances were in Nicholas II's People's House, which later has become the "Velikan" ("Giant") movie theatre, and in 1988 it has been transformed into the St. Petersburg Music Hall. The building in the Arts Square, in which the theatre has been housed since 1938, had originally been a mansion, then in the 1910s it has been reconstructed by I.L. Balbashevsky to house the Palace operetta theatre. The programme is of traditional operetta — from "Mr. X" and "The Queen of the Czardas" by Kalman and Lehar's "The Merry Widow" to musicals from the second half of the 20th century. Great interest has been aroused by a new production "I Don't Know Any Other Country Like This (A Short History of the Russian Communist Party"). 14 October sees the start of a series of special concerts to celebrate the theatre's 70th anniversary. Also scheduled for October is the premiere of "Josephine and Napoleon", based on themes from the music of Offenbach.
Address: Italianskaya Street, 13
Tel: 210-4316
| Gostiny Dvor |
THE THEATRE ON LITEINY
A popular chamber theatre in the city center. Among the best recent productions have been Klim's lyrical philosophical plays "Love for Love" and "A Moon for the Stepsons of Fate", the black comedy "The Vampire", a clever sketch "Great Catherine", a great love story "Toybele and her Demon" by the Nobel Prize-winner Issac Bashevits Singer, the grotesque comedy "The Watchman" and the ironic lyrical play "A City Romance". The latest productions are "The Peasant Lady", based on the themes of a short story by Pushkin, Ostrovsky's "The Forest" and "Faith, Hope and Love" by Y. Knyazev. The first perfomance of "The Down-and-Outs" (a phantasmagoria based on Gogol's "The Nose") will take place at the end of October. Address: Liteiny Av.,51
Tel: 273 5335.
| Mayakovskaya |
HERMITAGE THEATRE
Formerly the court theatre for the Winter Palace, it is now the venue for evening concerts by chamber groups from the Philharmonia and performances by famous foreign soloists. The resident orchestra is the "St. Petersburg Camerata", conducted by S. Sondetskis. Address: Dvortsovaya Emb.,34
Metro: Nevsky Prospect
Tel:311 1920.
| Nevsky Prospect |
ST. PETERSBURG STATE CIRCUS
St. Petersburg's permanent circus, the oldest in Russia. Its programme features equestrian shows, acrobats, tight-rope walkers, illusionists, clowns and trained animals. A Museum of Circus Arts is located on the 2nd floor. Guided tours available. The circus is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to Sunday. Performances start at 7.00 p.m. on Tues, Wed and Hri, and at 11.30 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. on Sat and Sun. Booking office open: 11.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. Museum open: Mun-Fri noon to 6.00 p.m.
Address: Reki Fontanki Emb, 1
Tel: 314 8478.
| Nevsky Prospect |
CONCERT HALLS
THE PHILHARMONIA
St. Petersburg's leading con cert hall, with wonderful acoustics. It has two resident orchestras, under the direction ofYuryTemirkanov and Alexander Dmitriev and concerts are given by outstanding musicians from Russia and abroad.
Address: Mikhailovskaya St.,2
Tel: 110 4257.
| Gostiny Dvor |
THE ST. PETERSBURG ACADEMIC CAPELLA
The comfortable old concert hall of the Imperial Capel-la near Palace Square. Music of various styles and ages — from baroque period to the 20th century — is performed by the Capella's choir and symphony orchestra.
Address: Reki Moiki emb, 20.
Tel: 314 1058.
| Nevsky Prospect |
OKTYABRSKY
A modern concert hall in the city centre, one of the largest in Russia. It features concerts by variety stars, rock festivals, and touring performances by musical theatre companies and great orchestras.
Address: Ligovsky Av, 6.
Tel: 275 1275.
| Plochad Vosstania |
LENSOVIET PALACE OF CULTURE
One of the city's most popular concert halls. As well as concerts by stars of variety and rock music, performances by well-known Russian theatres are held here. Producers Peter Brooke and Peler Slein liavc staged plays here.
Address: Kamennoostrovsky Av, 42.
Tel: 346 0438.
| Petrogradskaya |
MUNICIPAL CULTURAL CENTRE
The lounge of a famous palace, where performances are regularly given by the St. Petersburg City Symphony Orchestra under R. Marlynov. Hall ol Mirrors, Beloselsky-Beiozersky Palace.
Address: Nevsky Av, 41.
Tel: 315 5236.
| Nevsky Prospect |
CARNIVAL
Regular performances are given by children's choirs and orchestras, drama groups from St. Petersburg and beyond, jazz and rock groups.
Address: Nevsky Av, 39. (Anichkov Palace). Tel: 310 9744.
| Nevsky Prospect |
BOSSE'S HOUSE
A comfortable Capella Chamber hall, designed for performances by soloists, trios, quartets and other small chamber groups. Children's and folk music is also featured. Address: 15 4th Line, Vasylyevsky Island.
Tel: 213 3488.
| Vasileostrovskaya |