St Petersburg Ballet and Opera performances are legendary and a gread addition to a St Petersburg tour or St Petersburg shore excursion. We can help you with tickets on for any performance in St Petersburg. The play bill is known 1-1.5 months before the performance. The best possible ballet can be seen in the world famous Mariinsky (former Kirov) Ballet and Opera Theatre. If by chance you apply for the tickets too late or it seems to you that the price is out of your budget don’t despair: there are several other respected venues for ballet and opera, and the Mariinsky is not the only star in the town:
The Eifman company has won rave reviews for its modern gloss on classical ballet styles and sometimes perform on the Mariinsky stage in August, though now it’s so popular that getting tickets can be difficult.
Another well-known company is Valery Mikhailovsky Male ballet, it performs “Classical transformations” of Tchaykovsky Ballets and modern compositions such as Ecce Homo with music by Vangelis, Sinck, and Albinoni.
Maly Opera and Ballet Theatre — (Michaylovsky or Musorgsky Opera and Ballet theatre) . Its’ apricot and silver auditorium is no less beautiful and its repertoire includes mainstream ballets such as Giselle, Le Sylphide, andSwanLake. After the arrival of new choreographer Nacho Duato new, modern ballets have appeared.
Mariinsky Theatre (the company doesn’t perform in August) — A sumptuous 19th century ballet and opera house, better known by its’ old Soviet title, the Kirov. The art director and conductor Gergiev stages classical and modern performances: besides well known and impeccably performed Swan Lake, Le Corsar, Giselle, and La Sylphide. Among the last very successful performances were Le Park, Prodigal Son, Apollon, Forsite’s ballets, and Jewels (consists of 3 parts — Diamonds, Emeralds, and Rubies).
Don’t miss the chance to see the absolutely wonderful «Little Hunchbacked Horse» based on the Russian Fairy Tale with music by modern (but world famous) Russian composer Schedrin. He is the husband of Maya Plisetskaya – the Prima Absoluta of Soviet ballet, well known for her Schedrin turned Bise’s “Carmen” opera into ballet where she starred with overwhelming success; ballet is still on in The Mariinsky Concert Hall, close to The Mariinsky.
Peter and Paul Cathedral Fortress hosts wonderful concerts of choral music (church music and Russian romances) and concerts of bell-ringing.
Philarmonic Hall The Grand Hall named after Shostakovich is home to the St Petersburg Philarmonic Orchestra whose concerts vary depending on the conductor. The hall is also used by visiting foreign artists and an orchestra called “Klassika” that specializes in Strauss waltzes. The smaller Maly Zal (Small Hall) named after Glinka has better acoustics and a separate entrance. It’s used for solo and chamber recitals, which are truly remarkable.
St Petersburg Opera and Chamber Music Theatre is situated in a very beautiful palatial mansion of Baron Derviz and performs the most famous classical operas (the voices are wonderful) but sometimes in modern interpretation.