Saint-Petersburg is often referred to as the “Capital of culture”, meaning that the city is a “guard of greatest values”, “heir of cultural legacy”, “world treasury”. In fact, there are not many cities in the world that would be able to boast of such museum collections, such opera, and such literary heritage. Saint-Petersburg is bastion of classic ballet school – and a motherland of Russian rock music, Dostoevsky – and yearly festival of punk poetry, special world of old apartments with bronze chandeliers – and thousand people stadium raves. The cultural life of Saint-Petersburg is nowadays just as diverse as in any world capital. Hundreds of performances are staged in the city theatres, from classical operas in Mariinsky Theatre to “Claustrophobia” in Smaller Drama Theatre.
Mariinsky Opera House
The opera and ballet companies are famous the world over. The repertoire includes classical productions such as “Giselle”, “Lucia di Lammermoor”, “Lohengrin” and works by Mozart, Verdi and Rossini. The Mariinsky Theater, named in honor of Maria Fedorovna, the wife of Emperor Alexander II, was built by architect Cavos in 1859-1860. The building was constructed on Teatralnaya Square, and since then the square was recognized as the center of the cultural life of Saint Petersburg. The hall of the Mariinsky Theater is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is decorated with splendid three-circled chandelier and vivid plafond, designed by master Frachioli, famous curtain by Alexander Golovin, and gilded decorations and statues.
Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory Opera and Ballet House
Formerly the Conservatory’s opera studio. N. Dolgushin’s ballet productions are particularly popular — “The Nutcracker”, “The Sleeping Beauty” and “Giselle”. Also of interest are Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” and “Swan Lake” |
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Saint Petersburg Academic Philharmonic named after D. D. Shostakovich is the oldest in Russia. It is two hundred years old. The history of the Philharmonic goes back to 1802 when Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Society, the first one in Europe, was created. Nowadays Saint Petersburg Philharmonic consists of the two concert halls, famous all over the world for wonderful acoustics and beautiful interiors. The Philharmonic concerts are held in the Grand Hall, which is the former building of the Assembly of the Noble, and in the Small Hall, which is the former Engelgardt House.
The Glinka State Choir, or its' full title as the St. Petersburg Academic State Capella, are now regarded as the leading exponents of Russian choral music and indeed they are highly acclaimed for their renditions of the major Western choral works by Mozart, Verdi, Beethoven and Haydn. With the cultural renaissance taking place in the former Soviet Union in recent years, the Capella has played a significant part. Now they have restored their own large symphony orchestra, itself highly regarded and in particular the Choir has made available many forgotten and neglected choral works by composers of the last century.
Much of this music has still to be heard in the West although Passions of the 17th Century will be heard at the South Bank concert, a great deal of these works are yet to be fully assessed by musicologists let alone music-lovers.
Since 1832 Russian State Drama Theatre has resided in a magnificent building (built by the project of a prominent architect Karl Rossi) in the very heart of Nevsky prospekt in Saint Petersburg . The building was called Alexandrinsky Theatre (in honour of the spouse of emperor Nikolay the First, Alexandra Fedorovna) and since then the name of Alexandrinsky theatre has been tightly bound to the world history of stage art. A unique ensemble of buildings with a 5-circle auditorium, huge stage, festive palace foyers, grand facade, which turned into one of the emblems of the Northern Capital, entered the list of world architecture masterpieces, registered by UNESCO. 
The former court theatre of the Winter Palace. The repertoire includes Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” and gala concerts by ballet stars accompanied by the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. Ballet productions staged by prior application from tourist companies and other organisations.
St. Petersburg’s second largest musical stage, whose repertoire includes world classics of opera and ballet. Among the works in the programme are the operas Verdi’s “Otello”, Bizet’s “Carmen”, Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and the ballet “Cinderella” by Prokofiev. Originally St. Petersburg Mussorgsky State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater was called Mikhailovsky in honor of Emperor Nicolas I's brother. The permanent troupe of actors appeared only after the Social Revolution. That's when the theater got its own style and aesthetic credo. The theater attracted the audience with its unusual performances, as its actors were always searching for the new ways of performing. On the stage of the theater premieres of the operas by Prokofiev and Shostakovich took place. Famous Meyerhold staged several performances.