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World famous Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet and Opera - established 1783

SCHEDULE for World famous Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet and Opera - established 1783 2014

Mariinsky Theatre Virtual Tour

The Mariinsky Theatre represents a unique cultural force on the world stage among performing arts organizations. Its touring schedule and residencies abroad total more than 200 performances each year and span the globe, from North America, to Europe, Asia and beyond. The MariinskyСs artistic impact and its ambassadorial role on behalf of Russian culture have been recognized by governments and international organizations alike.
The Mariinsky Theatre was established in 1783 following a decree by Empress Catherine the Great to stage the first Russian comic operas and the best works of foreign composers. The current theatre building on Theatre Square was opened in 1860. The theatreСs magnificent decor of dazzling white sculptures, lustrous gilt chandeliers and light blue upholstery created the perfect atmosphere in which to herald in St. PetersburgСs golden period of operatic history.
In 1862, Giuseppe VerdiСs La Forza del Destino premiered on the Mariinsky stage and opened the door for the premieres of Russian masterpieces such as Boris Godunov (1874), Prince Igor (1890), and The Queen of Spades (1890). The Mariinsky Theatre, under the baton of Eduard Napravnik, quickly took its place among the worldСs leading opera houses. The theaterСs ballet company under the director of Marius Petipa was equally distinguished, premiering Peter TchaikovskyСs Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty and influencing the development of classical dance for generations to come.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, legendary artists such as Fyodor Chaliapin, Anna Pavlova and Vladislav Nijinsky graced the MariinskyСs stage. Under Soviet rule, the Mariinsky Theatre was renamed the Kirov Theatre, a change which did not alter the high quality of its artistic productions or affect the supreme talents of the dancers, musicians and singers performing on its stage.
In 1988, Valery Gergiev was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Kirov Opera. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the theatre reverted to its pre-Revolutionary name, and in 1996, Gergiev was named Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre. Under his leadership the Kirov Opera, Ballet and Orchestra have continued to garner worldwide praise.

Mariinsky Orchestra


(also known as the Kirov Orchestra)

The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

  • The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and Opera Company in the UK and Ireland
  • The Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra‘s Tour to the USA has home to a close
  • Symphony Marathon begins in London to Mark 100 Years of Shostakovich

    The orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre enjoys a long and distinguished history as one of the oldest musical institutions in Russia. Founded in the 18th century during the reign of Peter the Great, it was known before the revolution as the Russian Imperial Opera Orchestra. Housed in St. Petersburg‘s famed Mariinsky Theatre (named after Maria, the wife of Czar Alexander II) since 1860, the Orchestra entered its true "golden age" during the second half of the 19th century under the music direction of Eduard Napravnik (1839-1916). Napravnik single-handedly ruled the Imperial Theatre for more than half a century (from 1863-1916) and under his leadership, the Mariinsky Orchestra was recognized as one of the finest in Europe. He also trained a generation of outstanding conductors, developing what came to be known as "the Russian school of conducting."

    The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge The Mariinsky Theatre was also the birthplace of numerous operas and ballets which are meanwhile regarded as masterpieces of the 19th and 20th century. World premiere performances include Glinka‘s Life of a Tsar and Ruslan and Liudmila, Borodin‘s Prince Igor, Musorgsky‘s Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina, Rimsky-Korsakov‘s Maid of Pskov, The Snow Maiden and Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, Tchaikovsky‘s The Queen of Spades, Iolanta, Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, Prokofiev‘s The Duenna, as well as operas by Shostakovich and ballets by Khachaturian.
    Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was closely associated with the Mariinsky Theatre, not only conducting the orchestra but also premiering his Fifth Symphony there, as well as the fantasy overture Hamlet and the Sixth Symphony. Sergey Rakhmaninov conducted the Orchestra on numerous occasions, including premieres of his Spring Cantata and the symphonic poem The Bells. The Orchestra also premiered the music of the young Igor Stravinsky, such as his Scherzo Fantastique and the suite from The Firebird ballet.

    The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge Throughout its history, the Mariinsky Theatre has presented works by Europe‘s leading opera composers. In 1862, Verdi‘s La Forza del Destino was given its world premiere at the theatre in the presence of the composer. Wagner was a favorite at the Mariinsky Theatre, where his operas were frequently performed from the 19th through the beginning of the 20th century, including the first Russian performances of the complete Ring cycle, Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger and Parsifal. The Ring cycle was conducted by Hans Richter, who was the first to conduct the complete Ring in Bayreuth and at Covent Garden.
    The Mariinsky Orchestra also gave the first Russian performances of Richard Strauss‘ Elektra, Salome and Der Rosenkavalier, and Berg‘s Wozzeck in a production that took place two years after its world premiere in Berlin and twenty years before its premiere in Vienna.
    By 1917 the orchestra‘s name had changed to the Royal Imperial Theatre Orchestra, and was regarded as St. Petersburg‘s leading symphony orchestra. Its repertoire - operatic and orchestral - has traditionally included not only music of Russian composers, but also of European composers. Numerous internationally famous musicians conducted the Orchestra, among them Hans von Bulow, Felix Mottl, Felix Weingartner, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Otto Nikisch, Willem Mengelberg, Otto Klemperer, Bruno Walter and Erich Kleiber.

    The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge On two occasions, in 1847 and 1867, Hector Berlioz conducted performances of his own works, including The Damnation of Faust, Romeo and Juliet, Symphony Fantastique and Harold in Italy. Berlioz wrote in his memoirs "Such an orchestra! Such precision! Such an ensemble!". And in a letter dated December 1867, he stated: "I don‘t think Beethoven ever had a better performance of his compositions!" In March and April 1863, Richard Wagner visited St. Petersburg and led the Royal Imperial Theatre Orchestra in six programs of Beethoven Symphonies and his own compositions, including the world‘s first concert performance of Prelude und Liebestod. Gustav Mahler appeared with the Orchestra in both 1902 and 1907, conducting five concerts, including a performance of his Fifth Symphony. In 1912, Arnold Schoenberg conducted the premiere of his symphonic poem Pelleas and Melisande.

    Renamed the Kirov Opera during the Soviet era, the orchestra continued to maintain its high artistic standards under the leadership of Evgeni Mravinsky and Yuri Temirkanov. In 1988, Valery Gergiev was elected artistic director of the opera company and in 1996 the Russian Government appointed him as Artistic and General Director of the Mariinsky Theatre. Soon after the city of Leningrad was renamed St. Petersburg, the Kirov Theatre reverted to its original title of the Mariinsky Theatre, home to the Kirov Opera, the Kirov Ballet, and the Kirov Orchestra.

    The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge Under the leadership of Valery Gergiev, the Mariinsky Theatre has forged important relationships with the worlds‘ greatest opera houses, among them the Metropolitan Opera House, London‘s Royal Opera House, the San Francisco Opera, the Theatre Chatelet in Paris La Scala in Milan just to name a few. Besides extensive touring of the opera and the ballet company, the Kirov Orchestra has performed throughout world and has become one of the outstanding orchestras. The success of the orchestra‘s continual travelling has lead to the reputation of, what a journalist called, "the world‘s first global orchestra".
    In 1998, the orchestra made its debut tour of China, an historic first, with a performance in the Great Hall in Beijing, broadcast to 50 million people, in the presence of President Jiang Zemin. It was the first time in 40 years that a Russian orchestra had been in China.
    Under the baton of Valery Gergiev, the orchestra has recorded exclusively for Phillips Classics since 1989. Releases include the complete operas Khovanshchina, War and Peace, Sadko, Prince Igor, The Queen of Spades, Ruslan and Lyudmila, Iolanta, Fiery Angel (winner of the 1996 Gramophone "Opera of the Year‘ award), La forza del destino, Boris Godunov (1869 and 1872 version), Mazeppa, Betrothal in the Monastery, Love for Three Oranges and Semyen Kotko. In addition the orchestra recorded the complete ballets Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.
    In July 2000, the orchestra and chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre recorded Verdi‘s Requiem and other releases of orchestral music include Shostakovich‘s Symphony No 8, Rakhmaninov‘s Symphony No2, Stravinsky‘s Firebird¦and The Rite of Spring, Skriabin‘s Poem of Ecstasy and Prometheus as well as the complete Piano Concerti by Prokofiev.

    The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Click to enlarge

    Mariinsky (Kirov) hall plan

    Detailed plan with seat numbers

    Mariinsky (Kirov) Opear and Ballet theatre - Theatre Hall - preview

    Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet Video


    Swan Lake Ballet

    Dress Code for Mariinsky (Kirov) theatre

    There is no strict dress code for the Mariinsky (Kirov) theatre. Casual dress is accepted, for example you can wear jeans if you want. The only dress that are not allowed are shorts and T-shirts.

    Press-releases


  • The Mariinsky Theatre is continuing its tour to the United Kingdom under Valery Gergiev
  • The Mariinsky Theatre's tour of the United Kingdom has come to a close
  • Sergei Prokofiev’s War and Peace returns to the Mariinsky Theatre six years on...
  • Opening of the 227th Season of the Mariinsky Theatre and the 4th Season of the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre
  • The Mariinsky Ballet Company’s London Tour Ends on a Spectacular High Note



  • press-releases of 226 season
  • press-releases of 224 season
  • press-releases of 223 season
  • press-releases of 222 season
  • press-releases of 221 season
  • press-releases of 220 season
  • press-releases of 219 season



    Address: Teatralnaya (Theatre) square, 1 , see map


    Complete schedule of all St. Petersburg theatres 2022



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