Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arts
Despite the evident European influences, St Petersburg's Russian roots are a
more essential source of inspiration for its artistic genius. Musicians and writers
have long looked to Russian history, folk culture and other national themes. That
St Petersburg produced so many artistic and musical masterpieces is in itself a
source of wonder for the city's visitors and inhabitants today. Strolling from one
art-filled room to another through the never-ending Winter Palace, listening to a
symphony at the Mariinsky or watching a ballerina bend her body into impossible
shapes…such is the artistic feast awaiting the visitor to St Petersburg.
The hot ticket in town is the Mariinsky Second Stage, which should be
seats in what will inevitably become one of the leading ballet and opera
houses in the world.
BALLET
First introduced in the 17th century, ballet in Russia evolved as an offshoot of French
dance combined with Russian folk and peasant dance techniques. In 1738, French
dance master Jean Baptiste Lande established the Imperial Ballet School in St Peters-
The French dancer and choreographer Marius Petipa (1819-1910) is considered the
father of Russian ballet, acting as principal dancer and premier ballet master of the Im-
perial Theatres and Imperial Ballet. All told, he produced more than 60 full ballets, in-
cluding the classics
Sleeping Beauty
and
Swan Lake
.
In 1907, Petipa wrote in his diary, 'I can state that I created a ballet company of
which everyone said: St Petersburg has the greatest ballet in all Europe.' At the turn of
the 20th century, the heyday of Russian ballet, St Petersburg's Imperial Ballet School
rose to world prominence, producing superstar after superstar. Names such as Vaslav
Nijinsky, Anna Pavlova, Mathilda Kshesinskaya, George Balanchine, Michel Fokine
most dynamic display of the art of dance.
