MARIINSKY THEATER, ST PETERSBURG

The history of the Marriinsky Theater started in 1783 when the Kamenny (Stone) Theater was opened in St Petersburg. The theater bears its name - Mariinsky - since 1860. It was named in honor of Emperor Alexander II's wife Maria Fedorovna.

The Mariinsky Theater is situated in Teatralnaya Square, which is considered one of the most beautiful squares in St Petersburg. The theater, build by architect Cavos in 1859-1860, is a remarkable piece of St Petersburg's architecture.

The Mariinsky played a great role in Russian opera and ballet development. Many outstanding people worked in the Mariinsky including producer Marius Petipa, conductor Eduard Napravnik, opera singers Fyoder Shalyapin, Fyoder Stravinsky, Sofia Preobrazhenskaya, ballet dancers Matilda Kshesinskaya, Avdotya Istomina and many others.

The repertoire of the Mariinsky Theatre is rarely rich. Such classics as the Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, Eugene Onegin, La Boheme, Macbeth, Don Juan, La Giselle are often on in the Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg.