Repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg

The Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg is one of the most famous and largest theaters of opera and ballet in the world. The date of its foundation was October 5, 1783. Now the main conductor, artistic director and director is Valery Gergiev.

History of the theater

The theater was founded in 1783 by the order of Catherine the Great. Then it was called the Bolshoi Theater. But in 1811 he suffered very badly in a fire. In 1818, the building was restored, and the opera and ballet shows resumed. In addition to the Russian troupe, there were teams from France and Italy. Later Russian artists showed their performances in a separate building where the Circus Theater used to be, but in 1859 it suffered a sad fate - it burned down, and in its place a new one was built, where all the productions were soon transferred. In honor of Maria Alexandrovna - the wife of Emperor Alexander II - he was named the Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg). His repertoire consists mainly of operas and ballets of Russian and foreign composers-classics, but modern performances are carried out along with them.

Late 18th - early 19th century

The Mariinsky Theater is one of the oldest and largest Russian musical theaters. He played and continues to play a very important role in the development of Russian art in the field of opera and ballet. The repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater during this period was quite diverse, while the formation of the Russian composer school was actively supported. Along with the famous foreign operas and ballets of K. M. Weber, A. Gretry, L. Cherubini, P. A. Monsigny, J. Paisiello and others, the works of Russian composers of the time were staged: M.I. Glinka, E.I. Fomin, VA Pashkevich, SI Davydov and others. The opening of the new building was commemorated in 1836 with the production of MI Glinka's Life for the Tsar.

Late 19th - early 20th century

During this period the theater underwent reconstruction of facades and interiors, acoustics were improved, and a new building was added. The society has undergone profound changes, the Russian opera flourished, and a tendency appeared to introduce Russian composers into the repertoire. The repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater consisted of operas and ballets by MI Glinka (Rusalka, Ruslan and Lyudmila), AN Serov (Judith and Enemy Power), NA Rimsky-Korsakov (" Mlada "," May Night "), A. Dargomyzhsky (" The Stone Guest "), P. I. Tchaikovsky (" Blacksmith Vakula "," Iolanta "," The Queen of Spades "), S. Taneyeva (Oresteia "), M. P. Mussorgsky (" Boris Godunov "). Also included in the repertoire of Western European classics: J. Verdi (La Traviata, Rigoletto, Othello, Falstaff), WA Mozart, J. Puccini, K. M. Weber, R. Wagner "Ring of the Nibelung"), R. Strauss ("Electra").

The October Revolution and the Great Patriotic War

After the October Revolution, the Mariinsky Theater was elevated to the status of a state theater, so many repertoires appeared in the repertoire that were put on the orders of soldiers and workers. Crew agit brigades were created from artists who gave away performances in factories, factories, military units. The repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater included new productions: R. Wagner (Tannhäuser, Rienzi), R. Strauss (Rose Cavalier), A. Berg (Wozzeck). In the 1920s, revolutionary and Soviet-style operas appeared written by Soviet composers: AF Pashchenko (Eagle's Riot), V. M. Deshevov (Ice and Steel), O. S. Chishko ("The Battleship" Potemkin "), T. Khrennikov (" In the storm "), SS Prokofiev (" Love for the Three Oranges "). Since that time, the ballet repertoire began to expand: FI Stravinsky (The Firebird, Pulcinella), AK Glazunov (The Seasons), KA Korchmarev (The Fortress Actress) RM Glier (The Red Poppy), BV Asafiev (The Lost Illusions), AA Kerin (Laurencia), SS Prokofiev (Romeo and Juliet).

During the war the Mariinsky Theater was in evacuation in Perm, where premieres of such productions as opera "Emelyan Pugachov" by MV Koval and "Hayane" ballet by AI Khachaturyan were held. From the artists, concert brigades were created that went with concerts to the front line, to military units and hospitals, to collective farms, to factories. In 1944, the troupe returned to Leningrad, and the new theatrical season was opened by Mikhail Glinka's opera Ivan Susanin.

40-50s of the 20th century

The repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater in the postwar years consisted of classical and Soviet productions.

Operas:

• The Queen of Spades;

• Dubrovsky;

• Aida;

• Carmen;

• Faust;

• Rigoletto;

• "Ruslan and Ludmila";

• Mazeppa;

• Khovanshchina;

• "The Pskovite Woman";

• Sadko;

• "Duenna";

• The Taras Family;

• The Decembrists;

• "Mother";

• "The fate of man."

And also ballets:

• "Cinderella" and "Stone Flower" by SS Prokofiev;

• "The Bronze Horseman" FZ Yarullina;

• "Spartacus" A. Khachaturyan;

• "The Path of Thunder" by K. Karaev;

• "The Coast of Hope" by AP Petrov;

• LA Laputin's Masquerade.

Many performances were innovative, original and became the gold fund of the repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater.

60-70s of the 20th century

In the second half of the last century, the repertoire at the Mariinsky Theater included the latest productions: V. I. Muradeli "Lohengrin"; F. Erkel "Gunady Laszlo"; "Optimistic tragedy" by AN Kholminov; "Vasily Gubanov" DL Klebanova, J. Bizet "Carmen"; "Peter I" AP Petrova, "The Magic Flute" by WA Mozart, the ballet "Othello" by AD Machavariani; "Twelve" by Boris I. Tishchenko, "The Pearl" by N. S. Simonyan, "Man" by V. N. Salmanov, "The Land of Wonders" by I. I. Shvarts, "Two" by A. D. Melikova, "Hamlet" N Chervinsky, "The Creation of the World" by AP Petrov, "The Far Planet" by Meisel.

Opera and ballet of the 21st century

Today, residents and guests of the northern capital are offered a rich and diverse repertoire. The Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg) is a mix of classical and modern productions. The opera repertoire consists of performances: Aida, Ariadne on Naxos, Atilla, Boris Godunov, Valkyrie, The Magic Flute, Don Carlos, Eugene Onegin, The Woman without a Shadow, Enemy, Gambler, Iolanta, Spanish Hour, Flying Dutchman, Madame Butterfly, Mazepa, The Mystery of the Apostle Paul, The Fiery Look, Othello, The Pagliacci, Paleas and Melisenda "," Turn of the Screw "," Rigoletto "," Sadko "," Sister Angelica "," Means of Macropolus "," Traviata "," Electra ". Ballet repertoire: Adagio Hammerklavir, Giselle, Jewels, Humpbacked Horse, Variations for Two Pairs, Swan Lake, Infra, Romeo and Juliet, Nutcracker, Dizzy "" Cinderella "," Choreographic Game 3X3 "," Simple Things ".

Mariinsky-2

In 2013, the second Mariinsky Theater was opened (a new stage). The repertoire of the Mariinsky Theater-2 includes operas and ballets by composers-classics and contemporary, both Russian and foreign. The auditorium in the new building is designed for two thousand spectators, it has excellent acoustics and a magnificent view, and the backstage represents a whole city, well-equipped technically, with a large number of necessary premises, capable of accommodating a large theater staff of 2500 people. The new building, which provides three sites, will make it possible to implement even the most daring and audacious projects. Now it became possible to broadcast performances throughout the country, even in the most remote corners of the country. The new building of the Mariinsky Theater is one of the most equipped venues in the world.

Concert hall

The repertoire of the concert hall of the Mariinsky Theater is operas, as well as various concerts dedicated to the work of various composers or consisting of songs from the war years, solo projects of opera singers and instrumentalists, as well as choirs and orchestras.

Among other things, various stages of competitions and festivals are regularly held on its stages.