Mariinsky Theatre, Opera house in Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Mariinsky Theatre is an opera house on Theatre Square in Saint Petersburg, its main building adjoining the left bank of the Kryukov Canal. The pale green historic block has white trim, a rounded corner section under a shallow dome, arched ground-floor windows and white pilasters; across the canal stands the blue-panelled Mariinsky II, linked by a small pedestrian bridge.
Alberto Cavos designed the current building after a fire destroyed the earlier theatre, and the opening took place on October 2, 1860. Since then it became home to numerous premieres by Russian composers and remained active through political upheavals during the twentieth century.
The theatre is named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Tsar Alexander II, and a bust of her stands in the main entrance foyer. Its companies kept the Kirov name from the Soviet era for brand recognition, and the repertoire centres on the Mariinsky Ballet, Opera and Orchestra.
Performances run throughout the year, and tickets can be booked through the official website. Visitors without Russian language skills should note that some operas display English surtitles, but not all performances offer this assistance.
Since 2009 the house has operated its own music label, releasing recordings of the resident ensembles under the direction of Valery Gergiev. The productions are recorded directly in the halls, capturing the sound of the spaces and the acoustics of each concert.
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