Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Entertainment
The classical performing arts are one of the biggest draws to St
Petersburg. Highly acclaimed professional artists stage productions
in elegant theatres around the city, many of which have been re-
cently revamped and look marvellous. Seeing a Russian opera, bal-
let or classical music performance in a magnificent baroque
theatre is a highlight of any trip.
The Glorious Mariinsky
The Mariinsky Theatre (often still known outside Russia by its prerevolutionary name,
the Kirov) gave the world Nijinsky, Nureyev and Baryshnikov among many, many oth-
ers, and is understandably every visitor's first choice for entertainment in St Peters-
burg. Under the artistic direction of Valery Gergiev, the theatre has gone from strength
to strength, and the 2012 opening of the vast New Mariinsky Theatre (next door to the
1860 Mariinsky Theatre) will certainly put the institution back on the world map of
great ballet and opera houses.
Ballet & Opera
Beyond the Mariinsky, there's no shortage of ballet and opera in St Petersburg. The key
is to check which troupes are performing or to look for specific directors, as it's not
hard to find a turkey of a production, even of the Russian classics. Critics complain
that the Russian renditions of well-known Western works often seem naive and over-
stylised, so steer clear of Mozart. If you tire of Russian classics, keep your eye out for
more modern productions and premieres, which are also staged at the Alexandrinsky
and Mikhailovsky Theatres.
Far more likely to be good are productions of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rimsky-Kor-
sakov or Shostakovich, all regulars on the playbills at most theatres. Choreography and
staging of classics is usually traditional (some might even say uninventive), but that's
