The name of the Mariinsky Theater in Soviet times. History - Mariinsky Theater

St. Petersburg is called the cultural capital of our country for a reason. It is a city of monuments and museums, a city of exhibitions and concerts. And it is also a city of theaters, of which there are more than a hundred! Did you know that St. Petersburg once had its own Bolshoi Theatre? Now he is known under the name of the Mariinsky. The history of the famous Opera and Ballet Theater will be told todayAmateur. media.

The birth year of the Mariinsky Theater is considered to be 1783. But this year, rather, the father of the Mariinsky Theater was created. It was then that Catherine the Great issued a Decree on the creation of a theater committee "to manage spectacles and music." On October 5 of that same year, the Bolshoi Kamenny Theater was opened on Carousel Square. The inhabitants soon began to call the square theatrical, so it has come down to us.

1783 is considered the birth year of the Mariinsky Theater

Petersburg Bolshoi Theater was designed by the architect Rinaldi. It was huge and majestic, equipped with the latest modern technology. Preference was given, of course, to the French or Italian repertoire, besides, the Russian troupe often gave way to the stage to foreign ones. The first opera staged at the Bolshoi Theater was Lunar World by Giovanni Paisiello. But the theater was not limited to opera alone: ​​dramas and vocal and instrumental concerts were staged.

At the beginning of the XIX century. The Bolshoi Theater has become a part of the cultural life of St. Petersburg

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Bolshoi Theater became not only one of the symbols of the city, along with the Admiralty and the Peter and Paul Fortress, but also an important part of the cultural life of St. Petersburg. At that time, the theater was rebuilt under the direction of the architect Thomas de Thomon and acquired a grand appearance. But in 1811 there was a fire in the theater, and all the interior decoration was destroyed, and the facade of the building was also damaged. Seven years later, it was restored, then the theater underwent another important restructuring, carried out in 1836 by Alberto Cavos. Interestingly, at that time, the opera “Ivan Susanin” by the father of the architect Kavos was very popular on the stage of the theater. This was, of course, even before the creation of Glinka's opera with the same name.

The rebuilt theater opened in 1836 with a production of the same opera A Life for the Tsar by Glinka. And exactly 6 years later, Ruslan and Lyudmila, by the same composer, was staged for the first time on the same stage. Of course, the Bolshoi Theater became truly famous. True, the theater troupe was gradually transferred to the Alexandrinsky and the nearby Theater-Circus.

The building of the modern Mariinsky Theater was erected on the site of the Circus Theatre.

The fact is that in 1846 a ban was introduced on staging operas by Russian composers, and the Russian troupe was replaced by an Italian one. After 4 years, the ban was lifted, but the situation hardly improved: the Russian troupe did not have its own building, and the artists gave performances in a small wooden building of the Circus Theatre.

In 1859, the Circus Theater burned down, and it was in its place that the building of the modern Mariinsky Theater was erected. The construction was supervised by the same Alberto Cavos. The theater was named after the wife of Tsar Alexander II Maria Alexandrovna. You probably already guessed that you celebrated the opening of the new theater with a production of the opera A Life for the Tsar.

The second half of the 19th century was the heyday of the theater. Such famous works as Boris Godunov by Mussorgsky, The Maid of Orleans, The Enchantress, The Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky, The Woman of Pskov, The May Daughter and The Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakov, Prince Igor by Borodin were staged on its stage. , "Demon" by Rubinstein. At the very beginning of the 20th century, the repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater included Wagner's famous theatrical The Ring of the Nibelung, Electra by Richard Strauss, Khovanshchina by Mussorgsky. All these names and titles are known even to those who are far from opera art.

The ballet did not lag behind the opera. Not only the classics (“Corsair”, “Giselle” and “Esmeralda”) were staged on the stage, but also “La Bayadere”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake”. The famous choreography of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" is due to the creative union of choreographers Ivanov and Petipa.

In 1885, almost all performances from the stage of the closing Bolshoi Theater were transferred to the stage of the Mariinsky. On the site of the Bolshoi Stone Theater, the St. Petersburg Conservatory was erected. In 1917 the theater was declared State, and in 1935 it was renamed in honor of S. Kirov. But the troupe did not sit idle, at this time new famous operas appeared (“Love for Three Oranges” by Prokofiev, “Salome” and “The Knight of the Rose” by Strauss) and ballets (“The Flame of Paris” and “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai” by Asafiev, “Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev).

During the Great Patriotic War, the Mariinsky Theater was evacuated to Perm

During the Great Patriotic War, the theater was evacuated to Perm, where it continued its activities. In 1944, the Mariinsky came to Leningrad and celebrated his return with guess what? Correctly! "Ivan Susanin" Glinka. That's the way it is with theater. In the 60s, the famous dancers Nureyev and Baryshnikov performed on the stage of the theater. In 1988, Valery Gergiev took over the management of the theatre, holding this post until now. The Mariinsky Theater actively cooperates with famous foreign opera and ballet theaters, in particular, with the La Scala Theatre, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera and the Opéra de Bastille.

It was opened in 1783 in St. Petersburg as the Stone (Bolshoi) Theatre, since 1860 in a modern building (architect A. K. Kavos), at the same time it received its modern name; in 1919 1991 State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, since 1935. S. M. Kirov, since 1992 ... ...

- (Petersburg) (in 1914 24 Petrograd in 1924 91 Leningrad), a city in the Russian Federation, the center of the Leningrad Region. St. Petersburg is the most important industrial, scientific and cultural center of Russia. A major transport hub (railway, highways) … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (b. 1961) Russian ballet dancer, Honored Artist of Russia (1983). Since 1978 at the Opera and Ballet Theatre. Kirov (now the Mariinsky Theatre). Performer of the leading parts of the classical repertoire: Odette Odile (Swan Lake), Giselle (... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• Mariinsky Ballet: View from Moscow, Tatyana Kuznetsova. This book is a stage portrait of a Petersburg troupe seen through the eyes of a Muscovite. Here are the performances that the theater presented as hits of its seasons from 1997 to 2012:…
• Big theater. Culture and politics. New history, Solomon Volkov. A living, unorthodox history of the interaction between politics and art, government and society, the Tsar and the Theater. The Bolshoi Theater is one of the most famous brands in Russia. In the West, the word Bolshoi is not ... audiobook
• Theater of Opera and Ballet named after S. M. Kirov,. The book-album is dedicated to the Leningrad Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov, which has now returned its historical name - the Mariinsky Theater. The history of this theater is in…

In St. Petersburg? The history of the theater begins in 1783, when Catherine the Great decreed the creation of an institution "for the management of music and spectacles" to create the Bolshoi Kamenny Theater on the square, which has since been called Theater Square. All the most famous operas of that time were staged at the Bolshoi Theatre; Italian, French and Russian troupes performed here. The theater constantly required reconstruction, so it was rebuilt more than once by various architects. In 1859, the Circus Theater located next to the Bolshoi Theater burned down and the Mariinsky Theater was built in its place. Architect A. Kavos created the building, as well as the auditorium of the Mariinsky Theatre. For the Mariinsky Theatre, the architect designed a stage that fully corresponded to the technologies of his time. From this moment on, we can talk about the history of the creation of the Mariinsky Theater as the history of the creation of an entire era.

Actors of the Mariinsky Theater quickly gained popularity with the public. Each director of the Mariinsky Theater strove to stage an opera or ballet no worse than on the stage of the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre. The chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theater, together with the orchestra, performed musical works by Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Strauss, Borodin, Mussorgsky. In 1869, Marius Petipa became the choirmaster of the ballet troupe, who began the history of ballet with a completely new choreography at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. Under the direction of Petipa, the actors of the Mariinsky Theater staged the ballets The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and many others for the first time.

In 1885, the Bolshoy Kamenny Theater was closed for reconstruction, and most of the performances were transferred to the Mariinsky Theatre. The history of the construction of the Mariinsky is being resumed. At the same time, a three-story building was added to the Mariinsky, where the workshops of the Mariinsky Theater are located. Now the artists paint the sets, sew the costumes and store some of the props in the workshops of the Mariinsky Theatre. In 1886, the Bolshoi Theater was demolished, and all performances were held at the Mariinsky Theater. In 1894, the architect Schroeter expanded the auditorium, modified the main façade and replaced the wooden rafters with steel and reinforced concrete in the auditorium of the Mariinsky Theatre.

In 1917, the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg becomes a state theater. In 1935 it received a new name in honor of S.M. Kirov. In the 1920s and 1930s directors of the Mariinsky Theater staged works by Soviet composers: S. Prokofiev, A. Berg, as well as works by contemporary foreign composers, for example, R. Strauss. According to Wikipedia, the Mariinsky Theater at this time becomes the progenitor of the Russian drama ballet. But the stage of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg staged "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai" by Asafiev, "Red Lighthouse" by Gliere and others. During World War II, according to Wikipedia, the Mariinsky Theater was evacuated to Perm, where the theater continues to function. After the war, in the 1968-1070s, the last reconstruction of the theater took place under the direction of S. Gelfer, which completes the history of the construction of the Mariinsky Theater.

In 1988, Valery Gergiev came to the post of chief conductor, and from that moment the modern era of ballet and opera theater began. A museum of the Mariinsky Theater is being created, which stores costumes, scenery by famous artists and much more. The Museum of the Mariinsky Theater conducts excursions behind the scenes of the theatre. Also, under the auspices of Gergiev, the Mariinsky label was created and the construction of the second stage of the theater began. In 2006, the theater was presented with a new Concert Hall at 37 Dekabristov Street. In addition, the theater was returned to its original name - Mariinsky.

One of the oldest and leading musical theaters in Russia. The history of the theater dates back to 1783, when the Stone Theater was opened, in which drama, opera and ballet troupes performed. Department of opera (singers P.V. Zlov, A.M. Krutitsky, E.S. Sandunova and others) and ballet (dancers E.I. Andreyanova, I.I. Valberkh (Lesogorov), A.P. Glushkovsky, A.I.Istomina, E.I.Kolosova and others) from the drama troupe took place in 1803. Foreign operas were staged, as well as the first works by Russian composers. In 1836, the opera A Life for the Tsar by M. I. Glinka was staged, which opened the classical period of Russian opera art. Outstanding Russian singers O.A. Petrov, A.Ya. In the 1840s the Russian opera troupe was pushed aside by the Italian, which was under the patronage of the court, and transferred to Moscow. Her performances resumed in St. Petersburg only from the mid-1850s. on the stage of the Circus Theatre, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1859 (architect A.K. Kavos) and opened in 1860 under the name of the Mariinsky Theater (in 1883-1896 the building was reconstructed under the guidance of architect V.A. Schroeter). The creative development and formation of the theater is associated with the performance of operas (as well as ballets) by A.P. Borodin, A.S. Dargomyzhsky, M.P. Mussorgsky, N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov, P.I. Tchaikovsky (many works for the first time) . The activity of the conductor and composer E.F. Napravnik (in 1863-1916) contributed to the high musical culture of the collective. A great contribution to the development of ballet art was made by the choreographers M.I. Petipa, L.I. Ivanov. Singers E.A. Lavrovskaya, D.M. Leonova, I.A. Melnikov, E.K. Mravina, Yu.F. Platonova, F.I. Stravinsky, M.I. and N.N. Fignery, F.I. Chaliapin, dancers T.P. Karsavina, M.F. Kshesinskaya, V.F. Nizhinsky, A.P. Pavlova, M.M. Fokin and others. , including A.Ya.Golovin, K.A.Korovin.

After the October Revolution, the theater became state, since 1919 - academic. Since 1920 it was called the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, since 1935 - named after Kirov. Along with the classics, the theater staged operas and ballets by Soviet composers. Singers I.V. Ershov, S.I. Migai, S.P. Preobrazhenskaya, N.K. Pechkovsky, ballet dancers T.M. Vecheslova, N.M. V. Lopukhov, K. M. Sergeev, G. S. Ulanova, V. M. Chabukiani, A. Ya. Shelest, conductors V. A. Dranishnikov, A. M. Pazovsky, B. E. Khaikin, directors V. A. Lossky, S. E. Radlov, N. V. Smolich, I. Yu. Shlepyanov, ballet masters A. Ya. Vaganova, L. M. Lavrovsky, F. V. Lopukhov. During the Great Patriotic War, the theater was in Perm, continuing to work actively (there were several premieres, including the opera “Emelyan Pugachev” by M.V. Koval, 1942). Some theater artists who remained in the besieged Leningrad, including Preobrazhenskaya, P.Z. Andreev, performed in concerts, on the radio, and participated in opera performances. In the postwar years, the theater paid great attention to Soviet music. The artistic achievements of the theater are associated with the activities of the chief conductors S.V. Yeltsin, E.P. Grikurov, A.I. Klimov, K.A. Simeonov, Yu.Kh. , choreographers I.A. Belsky, K.M. Sergeev, B.A. Fenster, L.V. Yakobson, artists V.V. Dmitriev, I.V. Sevastyanov, S.B. Virsaladze and others. In the troupe ( 1990): chief conductor V.A. Gergiev, chief choreographer O.I. Vinogradov, singers I.P. Bogacheva, E.E. Gorohovskaya, G.A. V.M.Morozov, N.P.Okhotnikov, K.I.Pluzhnikov, L.P.Filatova, B.G.Shtokolov, ballet dancers S.V.Vikulov, V.N.Gulyaev, I.A.Kolpakova, G.T.Komleva, N.A.Kurgapkina, A.I.Sizova and others. He was awarded the Order of Lenin (1939), the Order of the October Revolution (1983). Large-circulation newspaper "For Soviet Art" (since 1933).

The Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg is one of the world-class stage venues. Its visit is an important point of the tourist program of stay in the Northern capital of Russia. The official website of the Mariinsky Theater helps to get acquainted with the theater's repertoire and book tickets for performances in advance.

Empress Catherine II is considered to be the ideological founder of the theatre. By her order, a theater troupe was organized, performing in the premises of the Moscow Conservatory. In 1783, the building of the circus theater on Carousel Square (later changed its name to Teatralnaya) was opened. As a result of the fire, the old building burned down. The new theater was commissioned to build the Italian architect Alberto Cavos. The troupe was under the patronage of the imperial family, therefore it received the name of the wife of Emperor Alexander II - Maria Alexandrovna. The opening of the Mariinsky Theater was marked by the premiere performance of Glinka's opera A Life for the Tsar.

At the end of the 19th century the interior has been changed. The architect V. Schroeter significantly supplemented the theater complex with premises with workshops and dressing rooms. The stage was converted for choreographic performances. After the establishment of the power of the Bolsheviks, the Mariinsky Theater was transferred under the care of the Commissariat of Education. During the Great Patriotic War, the troupe was evacuated beyond the Urals. In Perm, the artists continued to stage performances and returned to Leningrad after the blockade was lifted. At the beginning of the 21st century The Mariinsky Theater has new stages in St. Petersburg and branches in other cities. From the end of the 80s. the artistic director is the conductor V. Gergiev.

Reenactments and first performance

On October 2, 1860, the first performance was given in the building of the Mariinsky Theater. For the premiere, they chose Mikhail Glinka's patriotic opera A Life for the Tsar. She became the "calling card" of the famous St. Petersburg theater. However, historians believe that G. Paisiello's opera "Lunar World" should have the title of the 1st production.

The main building of the Mariinsky Theater has undergone several renovations:

• in 1802-1803 (designed by Thomas de Thomon) layout and appearance changed
• 1968–1970 (designed by Salome Gelfer) the left wing of the building was enlarged, the removal of crystal fragments embedded in the walls disturbed the acoustics of the hall

Return of historical name

After the establishment of Soviet power in 1917, the name of the theater was abolished. They began to call him the State. In 1919, the team was awarded the title of Academic. In the 30s. in memory of S. Kirov, the theater was awarded the right to bear his name.

Twice the theater troupe was awarded honorary orders:

• Lenin (1939)
• October Revolution (1983)

In January 1992, the Leningrad Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after S. M. Kirov received its historical name - Mariinsky.

Venues

The Mariinsky Theater has 6 stages. They are located in different cities of the Russian Federation:

• St. Petersburg -3 (main and second stages, concert hall)
• Vladikavkaz - 2 (Opera and Ballet Theater and the Philharmonic of North Ossetia)
• Vladivostok - 1 (seaside)

Main building of the Mariinsky Theater

Mariinka -1, where the main stage of the famous theater is located, is an old building of the 19th century. Its project was developed by the architect A.K. Kavos and supplemented by V.A. Schreter at the end of the 19th century. The case is made in the style of classicism. A turret rises above the domed top.

The interior decoration strikes with luxury and splendor of decoration. The hall, foyer and hall are decorated with sculptures, moldings, and wall paintings. Authors of paintings:

• E. Fracioli
• A. Golovin

The drawing of the curtain on the stage corresponds to the texture of the imperial train of Maria Alexandrovna. It is the emblem of the Mariinsky Theatre.

The hall is designed for 1609 seats. Stage dimensions:

• width - 30 m
• depth - 20 m
• height - 24-25 m

Second scene

Mariinsky-2 was created specifically for the needs of the theater and in accordance with modern technical requirements. Its parameters are:

• hall capacity - 2 thousand people
• area - 80 thousand sq.m
• floors - 7

Architects from Russia, Canada, Great Britain, Austria worked on the project and improvement of the internal space. The audience seats in the hall are arranged in several tiers. The central position is occupied by a box for guests of honor (analogous to the Royal box). The stage is equipped with technical means that allow you to quickly change the scenery. The depth of 80 m allows you to create a powerful acoustic effect. The second stage was opened to the public in 2013.

Concert Hall (third stage)

Mariinka-3 was created on the basis of pre-revolutionary workshops for the production of scenery. The building was built in accordance with the sketches of the architect V. Schroeter. At the beginning of the 21st century it was completely destroyed in the fire.

The new premises were developed by a tandem of specialists:

• architect K. Fabre (France)
• Toyota engineer (Japan)

The concert hall is designed for vocal and symphonic performances, as well as audio recordings. Its main characteristics:

• volume -1.3 thousand cubic meters
• capacity - 1110 seats
• length - 52 m
• width - 24 m
• height - 14 m

In 2009, a French-made organ was installed in the premises. The building is a monument of urban planning and is included in the list of objects of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation.

seaside scene

The most remote stage of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater is located in the Far East region. It is located in the Opera and Ballet Theater in Vladivostok. The new building was being built for the APEC summit. Design work was carried out by specialists from Omsk.

The building has 2 halls:

• Large - in the form of a horseshoe for 1,356 seats. Designed for large-scale events and gala concerts.
• Small - with a single-level stage and stalls, designed for 305 seats. For chamber performances, master classes.

During construction, preference was given to natural materials (wood, stone), which contributed to the creation of a powerful acoustic effect. The building is also equipped with equipment for the needs of people with special needs (ramps, elevators). The opening of the Primorsky Stage took place in 2013.

National Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania

The building of the North Ossetian Opera and Ballet Theater in Vladikavkaz (Tkhapsaev St., 18) has been the stage of the Mariinsky Theater since 2017. The complex of premises along the banks of the Terek was designed by the architect I.V. Ryabikin in 1910. Construction work was carried out in the 50s. under the guidance of architect T. M. Butaeva. The building has been declared a national treasure of republican significance.

The hall simultaneously accommodates 680 people. Scene:

• width - 14 m
• height - 12 m

North Ossetian State Philharmonic

Since 2017, the Mariinsky Theater has been renting the building of the North Ossetian Philharmonic. For 10 years, artists from St. Petersburg will be able to perform stage activities in the premises of the former Lutheran Cathedral, located at the address: Vladikavkaz, Miller St. 34. The German church (19th century) was transformed into a cultural and educational institution in 1944. In 2015-16 The building has undergone a major overhaul. The historical appearance of the building has remained unchanged.

Classical heritage in the repertoire

The stage of the Mariinsky Theater has become famous in the history of theatrical art of Russia as a venue for the premiere performances of the classics of the ballet and opera genre. In the 19th - early 20th century. the artists of the Mariinsky Theater were involved in the first productions:

• ballets - "The Little Humpbacked Horse", "Golden Fish", "Sleeping Beauty", "Raymonda", "Chopiniana", "Petrushka"
• operas - "Life for the Tsar", "Ruslan and Lyudmila", "Mermaid", "Stone Guest", "May Night", "Snow Maiden", "The Night Before Christmas", "Boris Godunov", "Maid of Orleans", "Enchantress" ”, “Queen of Spades”, “Iolanta”, “Prince Igor”

During the Soviet period, the creative baggage of the theater troupe was replenished with performances imbued with a revolutionary spirit and meeting the requirements of socialist realism. However, the classics were not forgotten. The annual playbill of the Mariinsky Theater necessarily includes, along with the premieres, productions that the audience has loved from the past repertoire. The stage of the Mariinsky Theater still shows Swan Lake, Giselle, Carmen, etc.

Troupes

The creative team of the theater includes 2 troupes:

• ballet
• operatic

The ballet troupe originated at the end of the 18th century. Its backbone was made up of court dancers, graduates of the French dance school under the direction of J. Lande. In the 19th and 20th centuries renowned choreographers collaborated with the Mariinsky Theater artists:

• Sh. L. Didlo
• M. Petipa
• W. Meyerhold
• V. Vainonen
• L. Jacobson
• S.Kaplan

The names of outstanding dancers are inscribed in the history of the theater - Vaclav Nezhinsky, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov. The glory of Russian ballet was claimed and supported by ballerinas - Matilda Kshesinskaya, Anna Pavlova, Galina Ulanova. Until the beginning of the 19th century. mostly foreign artists performed on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. In the 30-40s. 19th century a Russian opera troupe is gradually being formed. The theater's repertoire was constantly replenished with new operas by European and Russian composers, which contributed to the expansion of the troupe and the involvement of artists with exceptional singing skills.

• Osip Petrov
• Fyodor Chaliapin
• Medea and Nikolai Figner
• Sofia Preobrazhenskaya
• Leonid Sobinov

The troupes include artists with the titles of honored and people, laureates of national and international competitions.

Festivals

The artistic group of the Mariinsky Theater takes an active part in cultural events organized in the city on the Neva. Since 1993, on the initiative of V. Gergiev, the Stars of the White Nights art festival has been regularly held in the northern capital. It has an international status, has highly recommended itself at the world level and is included in the Top 10 musical concert programs of the classical genre.

During the festival, the most famous performers and groups perform on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater, presenting novelties in the field of symphonic and chamber music, opera and ballet. Stars of the White Nights helps new talents to open up and establish close partnerships between theater companies. Residents and guests of the city have the opportunity to get to know the national art and cultural heritage of other countries within the framework of the festival.

The theater stages host a number of genre festivals:

• ballet "Mariinsky"
• orchestral wind music Brass Evening at the Mariinsky
• contemporary music "New Horizons"

Theatrical productions from the repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater are constantly included in the festival programs of the Moscow Easter and Maslenitsa. The theater management pays great attention to introducing the younger generation to the masterpieces of world classics. Especially for children and youth, the Mariinsky Theater organizes:

• festival of children's musical theater-studios
• art schools visiting the theater
• children's and youth orchestras "Mariinsky NEXT"

Opening hours and ticket prices