The State Academic Mariinsky (Ex. Kirov) Ballet and Opera Theatre - New Stage (Mariinsky II)
About theatre
Saint Petersburg always was famous for its theatres, and among a huge number of the various theatres Mariinsky is the most important one. Before we could admire the performances only visiting the historical stage of that world famous place, but from May 2013 we also can enjoy the New modern stage of Mariinsky Theatre, which is called Mariinsky-2. The new project is considered to be one of the most innovate concert and theatre area in the world. The theatre auditorium with a perfect acoustic was created for more than 2000 spectators!
See also: Mariinsky Ballet and Opera Theatre, Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall
Mariinsky II Theatre, ul. Dekabristov, 34, St Petersburg, 190000
Mariinsky II is a good thing. With its 2,000 seats and carefully engineered acoustics, the theatre offers impressive technical flexibility.
The Economist
In 1997 the conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre Valery Gergiev personally talked to the president of Russian Federation that time Boris Eltsin about the amplifying the stage of the main theatre of Saint Petersburg. The first project of the New Stage was created by American post-modernist Erik Moss two years later, but was denied. In 2003 the new tender was organized, in which 6 foreign and 5 Russian companies took part. The French architect Dominique Perrault won the tender and offered a gorgeous project with a very complicated form of the auditorium. Due to the plan the theatre should be finished in 2009, but unfortunately that project neither was realized because of its complexity. In 2009 a new variant of the future theatre was chosen, created by a Canadian bureau Diamond & Schmitt Architects. The first finance plan calculated 10 milliard rubles, then went up to 19 milliards and the completion date was moved to 2013. Finally in 2013 the colossal project of the New Stage of Mariinsky Theatre was finished and grand opening took place on 2 May 2013. The total budget cost 22 milliard rubles!
The repertoire of the theatre shows great variety of the directions, actors great skills, the relation of the deep history with the modern audience and the modern pieces of different styles: opera, ballet or symphonic music. There you can enjoy such opera works as: Aida, A Life for the Tsar, Tosca, Dead Souls, Madame Butterfly, Eugene Onegin, The Tail of Tsar Saltan, and more; and outstanding ballet plays like: Anna Karenina, Ballet Imperial, Carmen Suite, The Firebird, Inside the lines, Koniok-Gorbunok (the little humpbacked horse), Presentiment of spring, Simple things, The Swan, Without, and more wonderful works of Russian ballet.
The Mariinsky 2 gives you a good opportunity to appreciate works of most famous names in the history of Russian and European classical and modern music Art such as Glinka, Verdi, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Shchedrin, Massenete, Ravel and more. And certainly you’ll enjoy the masterpiece skills of a lot of outstanding ballet dancers, among them: Ulyana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva, Daria Pavlenko, Denis Matvienko, Vladimir Shklyarov and others; talented opera singers: Svetlana Volkova, Irina Bogacheva, Olga Borodina, Vasily Gorshkov, Aleksandr Gerasimov and more. We can’t miss the name of the present conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre who is Valery Gergiev, outstanding artist, musician, the director of the majestic Mariinsky Orchestra!
The modern building of the theatre is made of beige marble, has panoramic windows of different size and the top of the theatre is covered with metal roof. The total square of the theatre is 79 114. Inside it’s also very smart decorated with illuminated walls made of onyx, marble floors, stairs and numerous big ceiling lamps, which represent thousands of crystal drops joined with invisible lines, created by Swarovski Company. Thanks for the big panoramic windows from the inside vestibule you can enjoy the marvelous view to the historical building of the Theatre and the Krukov canal. During the evening performances the theatre looks completely different. The big auditorium hall was created due to the norms of XVIII and XIX centuries; it means that it’s acoustically and visually perfect. Inside there are 3 circles which are decorated with different kinds of wood. The auditorium was made to accommodate up to 2000 visitors. The stage consists of three parts: the main one, the back stage and the rehearsal hall. They can be used separately o together, depending on the complexity of the performance. The beautiful amphitheatre is located on the top of the building, it was created to organize festivals during the White nights, the most popular and theatric period in Saint Petersburg!
Talking about dress code: formal suite and the black tie for men and the evening dress for women are the must. Visiting the theatre in the cold season(autumn, winter, early spring) remember about a possible snow and rain outside, that’s why don’t forget to take shoes to change and to leave your coat and hat in the cloakroom.
The New stage of Mariinsky theatre is located right next to the Historical one, at the Teatralnaya square, near the Krukov canal. It is quiet easy to reach it from every point of the city, using underground(stations Admiralteyskaya, Sadovaya, Sennaya, Spasskaya), taxi o simply walking along the beautiful streets and canals of Saint Petersburg. Beside we’ll gladly organize a transfer for you from the hotel or your cruise ship.
The Theatre is worth visiting every time of the year, but the June is considered the most romantic and nice time because apart from the precious performance you can enjoy wonderful White Nights of Saint Petersburg!