Hermitage Theatre, Palace theatre in Dvortsovy district, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Hermitage Theatre is a palace theatre in the Dvortsovy district of Saint Petersburg featuring late 18th-century neoclassical design. The auditorium's ceiling and walls display colored marble decoration, while classical niches house sculptures of Apollo and the nine muses.
Empress Catherine II commissioned architect Giacomo Quarenghi to build the theatre starting in 1783, with construction completing in 1787. The new structure replaced the earlier Imperial Theater and shifted how opera performances took place in the city.
The theatre stages performances by artists from Saint Petersburg's major houses such as the Mariinsky and Alexandrinsky. The stage hosts varied productions throughout the year from the city's established companies.
Visitors should prepare for formal dress codes and check their outerwear in the cloakroom upon arrival. During colder months, changing into indoor shoes is customary and staff can assist with this process.
The building stands on the foundations of Peter the Great's Third Winter Palace, with its remains still visible in the ground-level structure. These hidden layers beneath the surface tell the story of earlier imperial residents who occupied the site.
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