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” |