Time
St.Petersburg
belongs to the Moscow standard time zone (MST),
which differs from the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT):
Summer MST = GMT+4 hours. Winter MST = GMT + 3
hours.
St.Petersburg goes on Daylight Savings (Summer)
on the last Saturday of March and goes off
Dayligh Savings Time on the last Saturday of
September.
Climate
St.
Petersburg is characterized by an intermediate
(from nautical to continental) climate. It is
quite mild and humid with frequent fogs and
rains. There can be quite dry and hot periods in
summer time, when the temperature goes up to
+25°C...+30°C, but they last for a week
maximum. Precipitation is not too plen-tiful,
being 550-600 mm per annum.
The weather conditions of the city are much
different from what you can see in the most North
European cities.
Territory
As of 1993 the territory of the city is 606
square kilometers, and 1439 square kilometers
with the sub-urbs. The length of the city from
North to South is 44 kilometers, and 25
kilometers from West to East. According to the
last census that took place in 1997, there are 4
78000 people in St.Petersburg.
The history
The
Finnish Gulf, the Ladoga Lake, the Onega Lake and
the surrounding region became the arena of fight
between Novgorod, and later the centralized
Russian State and the neighboring states,
especially Sweden.
In 1240 Duke Alexander Nevsky who headed the
troops of Novgorod defeated the Swede at the
place where the Izhora River fell into the Neva
River.
However, in 1617 during the reign of Michael
Feodorovich when the Tunes of Troubles had just
been over, Russia was forced to conclude a peace
treaty with Sweden giving up the Izhora grounds.
The vast country was deprived of the natural
outlet to the Baltic Sea.
In 1699 during the reign of Peter the Great
(1689-1725 years of governing) Russia start-ed
its preparation for the war with Sweden. In 1700
the Northern War of Russia with Sweden broke out.
It lasted 21 year and resolved finally the
controversy of centuries. In the fall of 1702
Russian troops seized Noteburg. Peter the Great
called this fortress Schluesselburg (Key Town),
which marked that the route to Neva was cleared.
In May 1703 Peter and Paul fortress was laid in
the Zayachy Island with the church in name of
Saints Peter and Paul in the middle. The house of
wooden logs known as "the House of Peter the
Great" was constructed on the Right Bank of
the Neva River not far from the Peter and Paul
fortress. May 16 1703 is deemed to be the date of
St.Petersburg foundation. In May 1704 the
construction of the first sea fortress,
Kronstadt, was completed in the Finnish Gulf. The
location of these three fortresses outlined the
borders of the future Russian Capital and its
suburbs.
In 1710 the Capital of Russia was transferred to
St. Petersburg from Moscow, while in 1712 the
Tsar Family and households together with the
major Governmental Bodies moved to St.
Petersburg. On the 27th of July 1714 Russia fleet
headed by Peter the Great scored the decisive
victory at Gangut cape in the Baltic Sea that
made Russia an equal partner among the European
states and determined the out-come of the
Northern War.
Peter the Great conceived the idea of a regularly
planned city with well-defined layout developed
to clear designs. Domenico Tresini was the first
archi-tect who made the General Layout of the
city center. His designs were used for
construction of the Summer Palace of Peter the
Great, the Building of the Twelve Boards, and the
laying of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, that
appeared to be of the prime importance for the
city development and the ideolo-gy. It was Peter
the Great's intention to move the Relics of Saint
Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir City to this
monastery to make a memorial that would always
remind of the glory of Russian troops.
Jean Batist Leblon was the architect who
developed the General Layout of St. Petersburg.
During that period such buildings as the
Menshikov Palace, and the Kunstamera were
constmcted; the outstanding sculptor and
architect B.F. Rastrelli worked in the city The
combined efforts of these architects lead to the
specific style of St.Petersburg baroque.
A tragic pause in the city development followed
the death of Peter the Great (Ja-nuary 28 1725).
The opponents of Peter the Great's reforms
brought the Capital back to Moscow and the City
of Peter began to decay.
In 1730
Empress Ann (1730-1740) ascended the throne and
the status of Russian Capital came back to
St.Petersburg again. The Empress tried to be seen
as the follower of Peter's ideas. During her
reign the city was carefully divided into five
part, the center being moved to the Admiralty
Island. Three thoroughfares that stemmed from the
Admiralty were completed -Nevsky Prospect, Median
Prospect (now Gorokhovaya street), and
Voznesensky Prospect-Empress Elizabeth
(1741-176}) ascended the throne in 1741. She
brought Russia back to the Peter's cus-tom of
doing things by means of Russian people. The
reign of Empress Elizabeth was the period when
the society gathered strength for the coming
glorious epoch of conquests and transformations.
During that period the Russian Baroque style of
St. Petersburg was embodied in such creations as
the Winter Palace, and Smolny Monastery
(B.Rastrelli), and St.Nicolay Church
(S.Chevakinsky).
Empress Catherine II (1762-1796) was known as the
continuer of Peter the Great's affairs for home
reforms and significant conquests. After the
series of wars Russia acquired Crimea and the
Northern shores of the Black Sea, took back
Russian regions of Poland, and joined Kurlandia.
Brilliant educa-tion and philosophy ideals of the
Empress seriously influenced Russian
legisla-tion, policy and the fine arts of that
time. A new style - classicism - was established.
Such buildings as the Academy of Fine Arts
(Felten), the Gostinny Dvor (Valen - de la Moth),
the Marble Palace (Rinaldi), the Old Hermitage
(Felten). the Taurida Palace (Starov), the
Yusupov Palace at the Fontanka River, the Smolny
Institutewere con-structed during that period.
Emperor Pave! 1 (3796-1801) proceeded with
rearrangement of the city center and its suburbs.
In 1797-1800 the architects V. Brenna and V.
Bazhenov built the Mikhaylovsky Palace.
This is a square shaped building with an inner
yard surrounded by rivers and moats on all sides
like a medieval castle.
Emperor Pavel 1 was always in terror of a plot,
the refore to make his life safer he ordered the
palace with many passages, levels, and rooms. On
November t 1800 the Palace became the official
residence of the Emperor's family, however after
his assassination by the plotters the Emperor's
family came back to the Winter Palace.
In 1801 Emperor Alexander I ascended the throne
(1801-1825), and in 1812 the war with Napoleon
broke out. Moscow, along with St.Petersburg was
under threat of invasion of the French troops.
There are oodles of legends about the history of
St.Petersburg, and one of them is related to that
time when the city decided to erect the monument
of Peter the Great. A peasant from Lakhta
Village, Semen Vishnyakov, came to the city
authorities to say:
"There is a big stone in the bog near my
village. Its name is the Thunder Stone. Just come
and take it. It will be the pedestal for Peter's
monument since Peter himself used to climb it to
watch the sea". Thestone was inspected. It
was huge indeed, of ashgray quartz and feldspar.
Its weight was 100 thousand poods (one pood is
16-38 kg). The Baltic sailors headed by Captain
Mordvinov lifted it with winches and levers,
pushed it through the stope on the platform on
cop-per balls and rolled to St. Petersburg. In
took them two years to complete the job. This
Thunder Stone is a pedestal for the most wold
famous monument of Peter the Great, that is also
known and The Copper Horseman. It is located in
the city center near the Senate building. In 1812
Napoleon threatened to in-vade St. Petersburg.
There were some individuals who wanted to
dismantle this monument, but the people ready to
fight against the French troops created a new
legend that said: "In the night the clop of
hoofs of the Copper Horseman could be heard. It
was Peter the Great, the great-great grandfather
of Alexander I. He appeared in front of his
great-great grandson and said, "Mind that
while I am on my rock the city will never be
defeated".
The victorious parry of Napoleon's invasion in
1812 and the raid of liberation of Russian troops
to Europe were reflected in a new rise of the
city development in the Capital of mighty Russia.
The ensemble of the Mikhaylovsky Palace, the
ensem-ble of the Alexandrinsky Theater, the
buildings of the top governmental bodies of
Russia (The Senate and The Synod), the building
of the Headquarters with the Triumph Arch and the
House of Ministries in the Palace Square (Rossi)
were constructed during this period. The complex
of the Palace Square was ernmental bodies of
Russia (The Senate . and The Synod), the building
of the Headquarters with the Triumph Arch and the
House of Ministries in the Palace Square (Rossi)
were constructed during r this period. The
complex of the Palace Square was completed with
the Alexander Column, and the biggest cathedral
in Russia, the St.Isaac Cathedral was erect-ed in
the Isaac Square (Montferrand).
The death of Alexander I and the accession of
Nicholay I (1825-1855) to the throne were
complicat-ed by dramatic political events. On
December 14 1825, the day when Nicolay I was
taking the oath, the Guards' regiments headed by
plotters refused to swear to Nicolay. Their
intentions were to seize the Winter Palace, and
Peter and Paul Fortress, to encircle the Senate
and make Senators issue the Manifest to the
Russians, where they would declare the autocracy
toppled, introduction of democracy, abolition of
serf-dom and summon of the Constituent Assembly.
However the insurrection went bust. It was
sup-pressed in the cruelest way. That was the
first armed insurrection against the autocracy
and serfdom in Russia, later called the
Decembrist Rebellion.
During the reign of Nicolay I Russia waged wars
with Persia and Turkey in the East. That time
could be characterized by the stormy growth of
industry that brought about the extensive
development of the Capital. St. Petersburg
acquired new features typical of capitalism
epoch. The city appearance became more
complicated, multifaceted, and contradictory.
Private housing development was on the up and up
filling empty plots of land in the city center
with more buildings. During this time the squares
near railroad stations were formed, the revamping
of port facilities were completed, and a lot of
industrial buildings were erected. It was the
time when the ar-chitect Stakenschneider worked
in St. Petersburg. He was the one to create the
Mariinsky Palace in the Isaac Square, the
Nicolaevsky Palace, etc. The deve-lopment of
Petrogradskaya Storona (the district in St.
Petersburg) can be seen as an example of the
architects' concept of the city that was supposed
to be a single artistic entity.
The reign of Alexander II (1855-1881) was a time
of crucial changes in Russian society. Alexander
II went down in history as a reform-setting tsar.
His reforms of the 1860-1870s regarding abolition
of serfdom as well as administrative, financial,
military, and educational reforms made Russia
into a more democratic state, thus providing an
impulse for the development of all public
institutions. Over those years the Russian Empire
acquired lands in Middle Asia, the Caucasus, and
Far East. This period marks the peak of cultural
activity. The following buildings were erected in
Saint Petersburg: the Mariinsky Imperial Palace
(architect A. K. Kavos), the Capella (architect
A. M. Benois), the Palace of Grand Prince
Vladimir Alexandrovich (architect AJ.Rezanov),
Suvorin Small Theater (architect L.F. Fontana),
the granite enbankment in front of the Admiralty.
Alexander II, the most humane and
democracy-oriented of Russian emperors was
assassinated by a revolutionary's bomb on March
1, 1881.
These trends in the city development were
followed during the reign of Emperor Alexander
III (1881-1894), which was a short peaceful
reprieve for Russia.
During the reign of Nicolay II (1894-1917) Russia
waged a number of wars that happened to be
extreme-ly hard for the Country. The war with
Japan lead to the defeat of Russian fleet at
Tsushima Island and to the loss of the Port
Arthur (in China). In 1914 the First World War
broke out. Under the influence of anti-German
vein St.Petersburg was renamed into Petrograd in
1914. This war (1914 -18) appeared to be fatal
for the Russia autocracy.
The October Coup inspired by the Bolsheviks
head-ed by V. Lenin on November 6-7 1917 lead to
the change of the political system in Russia. The
Civil War and the mess in economy followed these
events. All private properties were nationalized.
In twentieth of XX century thousands of workers
from industrial outskirts moved to central
apartments, breaking the functional structure of
the central apartments, breaking the functional
structure of the central resi-dential houses.
During these years the Bolsheviks sold out to
foreign countries a lot of national trea-sures,
sacred objects that belonged to church, that had
been created and cherished for many centuries.
In 1917-1923 the Mars Square in St. Petersburg
was transformed into a garden laid out to the
drawing of
I. Fomin. The granite monument to the
revolution-aries was erected there to the design
of L.Rudnev.
V. Lenin died in 1924. The Bolsheviks renamed the
city into Leningrad "to immortalize Lenin's
name". In thirtieth and fortieth such
districts as Avtovo, Moskovsky Avenue, and Malaya
Okhta were developed.
The Great Patriotic War with Nazi Germany became
the hardest ordeal for the whole country and in
particular for St. Petersburg. According to the
plan of Hitler, Leningrad was supposed to be
totally demolished. The Blockade of Leningrad was
the most tragic period for the city during the
World War
II. It lasted from September 08 1941 till January
27 1944, about 900 days and nights. Fighting for
Leningrad the Soviet troops managed to keep the
enemy back from the city at quite a short
dis-tance set-ting an example of real hero-ism.
Two million eight hun-dred and eighty seven
civilians left is the blocked city. The Military
Council of the Leningrad Front established the
pro-duction of ammunition and goods needed for
the front. Foodstuff, fuel, and some ammunition
were delivered to the city by so called "the
Way of Life" laid through the frozen Ladoga
Lake. However that
was catastrophically insufficient. Such
communica-tion was not too much reliable. In
December 1941 most plants and factories of the
city stopped their activity Delivery of power and
water to residential buildings stopped too. The
city faced the real famine from the fall of 1941.
Only in December fifty three thousand civilians
died of hunger. During January-February 1942
famine and bombs killed over twenty thousand
civilians. In the spring of 1942 navigation at
Ladoga Lake started. Deliveries by ships and
boats became the major instrument of revival for
the city economy. During the Blockade eight
hundred thou-sand civilians died of hunger, while
seventeen thou-sand more were killed by bombs and
shell splinters. The memorial ensembles were
created in sixtieth at Piskarevskoye and
Seraphimovskye cemeteries, where the victim of
the Blockade had been buried. The monuments of
history and culture and the subur-ban palace
complexes were ruined or devastated. The
restoration works started right after the war.
These works were most successfully performed in
fiftieth and sixtieth.
In sixtieth - eightieth the city was developed
along the arch of the Finnish Gulf coast, as well
as to the Northwest and South. The memorial
ensemble of the Victory Square was established
that time. The "Oktyabrsky" concert
hall, the "Yubileiny" Palace of Sport,
the "Pulkovskaya" hotel, the
"Pulkovo" airport, and the Sport and
Concert Hall are the biggest build-ings that
appeared during this period. In 1979
St.Petersburg began to erect the flood protection
dam and associated facilities. Throughout its
history St.Petersburg always faced the menace of
flood. The dam starts from the Gorskaya station
on the northern coast of the Finnish Gulf,
crosses the Kotlin Island, and reaches the Bronka
station on the southern coast. The dam is 25.4
kilometers long and 8 meters high. After
commissioning of the dam and associated
facil-ities, the floods will no more threaten the
city.
The ninetieth of XX century are marked the
drastic changes in the governmental structures
and econom-ical policy In 1991 the name of Saint
Peter was returned to the city. The high speed
St.Petersburg-Moscow railroad project was started
in 1991. In 1994 St.Petersburg became the place
of the Good Will Games. The projects for
revamping of the City Sea Port and the Airport
have been initiated. The growth of business,
political and cultural activity is quite obvious.
Being one of the major European centers the city
has the honor to be referred to as the Northern
Capital of Russia.
Upon the decision of UNESCO St.Petersburg
has been recognizes as a Monument of the Worlds
Culture.
Museums
The
State Hermitage Museum
The
State Hermitage is one of the oldest and largest
museums in the world. The museum is located in 5
historical buildings of St.Petersburg, including
the Winter Palace - the former residence of
Russian tsars. The buildings of the museum, by
themselves, are architectural chef d'oeuvres. The
collections of the Hermitage number over 3
million items from prehistoric to modern times.
Magnificent works of art embracing prehistoric
culture, Egyptian art, the art of Antiquity,
Scythian gold, and great collections of
Western-European paintings and sculptures are
displayed in the 400 halls of the museum.
The Marble Palace
An
architectural monument of the middle of the XVIII
century (architect A. Rinaldi). Over 30 tints of
marble were used for the decoration of the
palace, hence the name Marble Palace, which was
bestowed by delighted contemporaries. Main
exhibitions:
'Foreign Artists in Russia" (the XVIII-XIX
centuries), "Peter Ludvig Museum in the
Russian Museum".
Inzhenerny (Mikhaylovsky) Castle
The
building was constructed to protect the Russian
emperor, Paul I Ironically, it was here where he
was assassinated the night o March 12, 1801.
Since 1817, the castle has housed an Engineering
School, which was attended by many great Russian
figures of th( past, including the writer
F.M.Dostoyevsky. Permanent exhibitions portrait
gallery of Russian public figures of the
XVIII-XIX centuries and exposition of sculptural
portraits of the XVIII century.
The Russian Ethnographical Museum
The
exhibitions of the Museum illustrate the everyday
life and culture of the peoples of Russia in the
XIX-XX centuries. The collections of the museum
number over half a million exhibits. In thfl
Golden Room, visitors will see decorations,
armaments, and cult objects, made of precious
stones.
Menshikov Palace
Occupies
the first stone building erected in St.Petersburg
(architects G. M. Fontana and I. G. Schedel) -
the palace of the first city's general governor
A. D. Menshikov. In the building, original
fragments of the interiors of the XVIII century
have been preserved, among them the famous Dutch
tiles. Exhibition of the State Hermitage Museum,
dedicated to Russian culture of Peter I's age,
has been open to the public.
St. Isaac's Cathedral, Museum-monumet
One
of the finest architectural monuments of the XIX
ointury (architect A. Montferrand), the former
principal cathedral of the Russian capital, the
largest cathedral in town able to accommodate
about 10 000 audience. The cathedral is adorned
with 112 solid granite columns weighting up to
114 tons each, and about 400 relieves and bronze
sculptures. The observation platform on the
colonnade provides a magnificent view of the
city.
The State Russian Museum
Opened
in 1898 in the Mikhaylovsky Palace (architect C.
Rossi). The museum numbers nearly 400000
exhibits. It is the largest in the country
collection of the Russian art, from ancient icons
to the Avant-garde painting of the XX century.
St.Petersburg Museum of Theatrical And
Musical arts
The
collection of the museum numbers over 400000
exhibits, including unique photographs and
documents, sketches of scenery decorations and
sheet music, original belongings of great Russian
artists.
Apartment Museum of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov
The
only museum in St.Petersburg in memory of a
composer, it is situated in the apartment where
Rimsky-Korsakov spent the last 15 years of his
life, 1893-1908. Authentic interior of 4 rooms
has been preserved: compositor's study, parlour,
dining-room, and hall.
The Museum of Musical Instruments
One
of the world's largest collections (about 3000
exhibits) of unique musical instruments,
including original instruments made by famous
craftsmen or played by great musicians.
The Museum of the Russian Academy of Fine
Arts
The
museum is located in the historical building of
the Academy of Fine Arts. One of the oldest
buildings in St.Petersburg, it has been in
operation since 1757, displaying art of the
Russian academic and the Soviet schools of
painting. In the museum, temporary exhibitions of
students' final examination works are regularly
held.
The Peter and Paul Fortress
The
Museum of St.Petersburg History
Sts Peter and Paul's Fortress was founded by
Peter I in 1703. Besides the ancient
fortifications, on the grounds of the fortress
one can visit the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral
of the early XVIII century (architect D.
Trezzini) with the burial vault of Peter the
Great and other Russian tsars, the Trubetskoy
bastion casemates, permanents exhibitions:
"The History of St.Petersburg",
"The History of Missilery and Cosmonautics.
Gas-dynamic Laboratory', "The History of the
Imperial Mint", "Pechatnya"
(Printing Workshop).
Elaginoostrovsky Palace-museum
The
Elaginoostrovsky Palace occupies the central
place in the magnificent palace-and-park
ensemble, created in the early XIX century by the
architect C. Rossi. The palace houses an
exhibition of former imperial residence gala
halls.
The Summer Palace of Peter the Great
One
of the first stone buildings of St.Petersburg
(architect O.Trezani) located on the grounds of
the Summer Garden, laid out by the order of Peter
the Great. The interior decoration of the early
XVIII century style offers a nice selection of
Russian and Western-European paintings and
decorative and applied art of the late XVII -
beginning of the XVIII centuries, as well as
personal belongings of Peter the Great.
Military-Historycal Museum of Artillery,
Engeneers and Signal Corps
The world's largest military museum. Located in
me building of the old Arsenal. The collection of
the museum numbers about 500 000 items: examples
of armaments, military uniforms, banners, orders,
battle relics of the Russian Army.
The Historycal Memorial Museum Smolny
The
building was constructed in the early XIX century
(architect G.Guarenghi). It is connected with
many turning points in the history of the country
and the city. The complex of the museum includes
the historical hall where, in 1917, the victory
of the October revolution was proclaimed, the
memorial study and apartment where V.I.Lenin
lived in 1917-1918, and other exhibitions.
The Museum of the Political History of
Russia
(Former
Museum of the October Revolution)
On
display: original objects, documents, photographs
dedicated to the Russian history of the XIX-XX
centuries, thematic exhibition on the life story
of an outstanding Russian ballet-dancer
M.Kshessinskaya, the former owner of the mansion.
New exposition "Deeming on the State
Duma" elucidates the history of Russian
parliamentarism in the XX century.
The Central Naval Museum
Located
in the historical building of the Stock Exchange,
designed by the architect T. de Thomon,
constructed in the beginning of the XIX century.
The world's largest naval museum, the oldest
Russian museum, founded in 1709. The museum
numbers over 800000 items, including "the
Grandfather of the Russian Navy" - the old
boat of Peter the Great, models of vessels,
examples of armaments and military machinery,
marine paintings.
Rumyantsev Mansion
A
branch of the Museum of St.Petersburg History
The mansion bears the name of one of its owners -
Count N.P.Rumyantsey, the founder of the famous
Rumyantsevsky museum, which was located in the
mansion's premises in the first half of the XIX
century. Nowadays, the exhibition "Leningrad
in the Second World War" is held in the
building, displaying over 2000 relics of war
times: unique documents and photographs, examples
of arms and ammunition, personal possessions of
Leningraders and the defenders of the city during
the 900-days siege.
Museum of Board the Cruiser Aurora
A
battleship of the Russian Navy, put on eternal
mooring. The museum exhibition illustrates the
Aurora's participation in the Tsushima battle of
the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, as well as
its revolutionary activities in the beginning of
the XX century and its participation in the World
War II 1941-1945.
Monument to the Heroic Defenders of
Leningrad
This
memorial is dedicated to the 900-days
unprecedented heroic defence of the city in the
World War II 1941-1945. Consists of an obelisk,
sculptural composition, and an underground
Memorial Hall, where original documents and items
of that time are displayed.
The Museum of the History of Religion
(Kazanskiy Cathedral)
The
cathedral was constructed by the order of the
Russian emperor Paul I "to resemble"
St.Paul's Cathedral in Rome. The cathedral is a
kind of monument, commemorating the Russian
victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. This is the
burial place of the great Russian warrior
M.I.Kutuzov. At the present time the museum's
display is dedicated to the history of the
Orthodox religion in Russia, the history of
Western Christianity and religious art. It
possesses an enormous collection of cult objects
and paintings.
The Memorial Museum of Leningrad Defence
and siege
The
collection of the museum contains original
documents and possessions, which were preserved
and later presented to the museum by
Leningraders.
The Museum of St.Petersburg Press history
The
museum's exhibition illustrates the history of
the St.Petersburg press, from the middle of the
XIX till the early XX centuries.
The Museum of Antropology and Ethnography
(Kunstkamera)
(The Chamber of Curiosities)
The
collection stems from the exhibits of the first
Russian museum - Kunstkamera, founded by Peter I.
Over 1 million articles telling about lifestyle
of different peoples of the world. Many of them
are unique.
Alexander Pushkin Apartment Museum
The
last residence of the Russian poetic genius. This
is also where he died on January 29, 1837, after
his duel. The exhibition displays original books
and home utensils, personal possessions of the
great poet, the original furnishings.
The Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
The
exhibits of this unique museum are dedicated to
the nature of the Arctic and Antarctic, the
history of expeditions to the North and South
Poles.
The Museum of Railway Transport
One
of the oldest technical museums in the country.
On display:
unique exhibits, illustrating the history of
railway transport in Russia from the very
beginning; some mechanisms and machines are still
in working order. Collection of models of
bridges, including the bridges of St.Petersburg.
The Zoo Museum
One
of the largest in the world. The scientific
foundation of the museum numbers 17 million
species, 500000 of which are on display.
Theaters
THE
CAPELLA HOUSE named after M.I. Glinka
The
Capella of St.Petersburg became famous as a
center of performance of the best works of
Russian and West European composers of the 15th -
20th centuries written for choir.
The building was constructed by L. Benua for the
Emperor Court Choir Capella, which was the oldest
professional choir created in 1479 in Moscow and
transferred to St. Petersburg in 1703.
Organ, choir, and solo concert of sacred and
classical music
attract more and more admirers.
MUSIC HALL
The
St.Petersburg Music Hall it one of the most
popular musical troupe of the city, that attracts
audience by colorful and spectacular revues- Its
present producer I. Rakhlin established it in
1967.
The building presently occupied by the Music Hall
was built in 1912 by the by the architect G.
Lutsedarsky (the Public House named after Emperor
Nicholas II) that is still one of the biggest
theater buildings of the city.
THE MARIINSKY THEATER
(formerly
the Kirov Academic Opera and Ballet Theater)
It is
one of the biggest and oldest music theaters in
Russia that is famous all over the world. The
theater dates back to 1783. The construction of
the theater building was completed in 1859
(architect A. Kavos). On October 1860 the
performance of M.I. Glinka's opera "Life
sacrificed for Tsar" marked its
inauguration. The theater was named after the
wife of Alexander II. Operas and ballets written
by the great Russian composers were put on (he
stage of the theater.
The performances here featured such brilliant
world famous stars as E. Lavrovskaya, F.
Shaliapin, M. Kshesinskaya, A. Pavlova, T.
Karsavina, V. Nizhinsky, M. Fokin, and G.
Ulanova.
Valery Georgiev, one of the best orchestra
conductors in the world, is now the Chief
Producer of the theater. If you go to the opera
you wilt surely enjoy splendid singing,
magnificent costumes and scenery, and brilliant
orchestra. The ballet repertoire consists of
Marius Petipa's stage versions of classical
Russian ballets like "Swan Lake",
"Sleeping Beauty",
"Nutcracker", etc.
THE OPERA AND BALLET THEATER named after
M.P. Musorgsky
(formerly
the Maly Opera and Ballet Academic Theater)
The
theater is famous by being the first to stage the
works of modem composers. The building that
houses the theater is called Mikhailovsky to
honor the brother of Emperor Nicolay I. It was
built in 1831-33 to the design of the archi-tect
A. Brullov. On November 08 1833 the theater was
inaugurated by the performance of the ballet
called "The Cupid in the Village".
The works of S.Prokofyev, D.Kabalevsky,
D.Shosta-kovitch, A. Khachaturyan, and R.
Shchedrin were put on the theater's stage for the
first time.
THE SHOSTAKOVITCH PHILHARMONIC HALL (Big
Hall)
This
oldest musical center is one of the biggest in
Russia. The Philharmonic Society was founded in
1921. The archi-tect PJaquau constructed the
building of the Big Hall in 1834-39.
At present time the Philharmonic Society
comprises two symphony orchestras. Such world
famous conductors and musicians as E. Mravinsky,
K. Zanderling, D. Oistrakh, E. Svetlanov, Y.
Temirkanov, S. Richter, and M. Rostropovitch
performed in the Big Hall.
On August 09 1942 the Chief Symphony Orchestra
directed by K.Eliasberg, plaid the Seventh
Symphony of D. Shostakovitch here.
THE OPERA HALL OF THE CONSERVATORIUM
named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov
In
this Hall that was established in 1923 a lot of
eminent singers, musicians and conductors
revealed their gifts. V. Nickol built the opera
house in 1891-96, as a part of the Conservatorium
Complex.
THE OCTYABRSKIY BIG CONCERT HALL
It is
a multi-purpose hall for concerts, celebrations,
big shows, and ballets. The architects
V.Kamensky, J. Verzhbitsky and A.Zhuk had this
building constructed in 1967. The hall is
equipped with modem light/acoustic facilities.
THE ALEXANDRINSKIY THEATER (Drama theater
named after A.S.Pushldn)
It is
the oldest professional theaters of Russia that
dates from 1756. The first director and producer
was A. Sumarokov, the playwright. His first
actors were two brothers, Fedor and Grigory
Volkov. The building was constructed to the
design ofK. Rossi in 1832 being one of the
architectonic masterpieces among theater houses
of the 19th century. On August 31 1823 the
theater was inaugurated and named after the wife
of Emperor Nicholay I (Alexandra). Such
outstanding actors as M. Savina, V. Davydov, Y.
Yuriev, the Samoilovs dynasty, N. Simonov, N.
Cherkasov, V. Mercuriev, and Y. Tolubeyev brought
glory to the theater.
THE BALTIISKY DOM (Formerly the Theater
of Lenin's KOMSOMOL)
The
theater is known to stage the plays about moral
problems of the youth that are of topical
interest. The troupe was organized in 1936, while
the building was constructed for the purpose of
this theater in 1939.
THE BOLSHOI DRAMA THEATER named after
Tovstonogov (Gorky Academic Theater)
The
theater was established in 1919. It is the most
prominent and outstanding troupe famed for
brilliant individuals that appeared on the stage
of the theater from 1956 till 1989 under the
direction of G.Tovstonogov. L. Fontana built the
theater building in 1876-78. Such actors as
V.Politseymako, E. Kapelyan, P.Luspekaev,
I.Smoktyunovsky, T.Doronina, S.Yursky, O.Borisov,
V. Strizhelchik, E.Lebedev, made their brilliant
performances on the stage. Today you can enjoy
the play of K. Lavrov, Z. Sharko, O.
Basilashvily, A. Freindlikh.
THE MALiY DRAMA THEATER
This
theater became well known both in Russia and
abroad by the innovative stage versions of the
novels of F. Abramov, and F. Dostoevsky put on
the stage by L. Dodin, the Chief Director of the
theater.
It was established in 1944 during the Blockade of
the City. From 1956 it occupies the building
constructed in 1911 by V. Fondeizen.
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