RUSSIAN CULTURE ►

CLASSICAL VENUES

St. Petersburg

►Theatres
►Concert Halls
►Jazz Clubs
►Jazz Festivals

Classical music is still being produced and performed in Russia and the music of Russian composers is played all over the world. Although classical music tends to be thought of as a musical phase of the past, many artists and musicians have taken classical instruments and compositions and experimented with different sounds and equipment to make music that is completely original and very modern. Jazz is only one form of a more contemporary type of classical music, but others are widely available in the form of operas, ballets, symphonies, etc. In St. Petersburg, classical music in its purest form is still greatly appreciated and played in many historically significant and beautiful venues. St. Petersburg is also well-known for its great jazz clubs and jazz music. The following is a list of places you might want to check out while visiting the city.

THEATRES

►Mariinsky Theater of Opera and Ballet

The Theatre was designed in 1859 by A. Kavos. The building itself is a wonderful piece of art. Here you can see ballet performances as well as operas performed by the world famous Mariinsky (Kirov) company. A must see for music lovers.

Tel: +7 (812) 714-4344
1 Teatralnaya pl.

►Mussorgsky State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

The Theatre is also called Maly (small) Opera Theatre and was inaugurated in 1918. Between 1833 and 1918, however, it was called Mikhailovsky Theatre. For a long time the Mussorgsky Theatre was called the "Laboratory of Russian Opera" because of its innovative and bold productions. Here you can see the works of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Khachaturyan, Shchedrin and other world renowned composers. Ballet is also performed here.

Tel: +7 (812) 795-4307
1 Iskusstv pl.

►Boris Eyfman's Ballet Theater

The St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre of Boris Eyfman was founded in 1977. The repertoire created by the ballet master covers a range of genres: chamber ballet programs (Autographs, Metamorphoses), comic ballets (The Marriage of Figaro, The Twelfth Night, and The Intrigues of Love), parable ballets (The Legend) and fairy-tale ballets (The Firebird, Pinocchio).

Tel: +7 (812) 323-0235
2 Lizy Chaykinoy ul.

►Tachkin Ballet Theater

The Theater was established in 1994, so it is young in comparison to the other theaters in St. Petersburg. The teachers are ex-soloists and performers of the Mariinskiy Theater and Its performers have become prize-winners of prestigious international ballet competitions. The repertoire includes such masterpieces as "Giselle", "Don Quixote", "Swan Lake" and others. The company also performs an American choreographed ballet by Peggy Willis called "Diamond". Many spectators say that that theater has a unity of style and refinement in its productions that can only be achieved in St. Petersburg.

Tel: +7 (812) 273-4881.
20 Liteyny pr.

CONCERT HALLS

►Shostakovich Philharmonic Hall

The St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the oldest Philharmonic in Russia, is almost two hundred years old. It organized the world premiere of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis in 1824. Numerous renowned musicians of the 19th century performed here: F. Lizst, H. Berlioz, R. Wagner, G. Mahler, A. Rubinstein, K. Schumann, P. Viardo and P. Sarasate among others. The Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic is one of the best concert halls in Europe.

Tel: +7 (812) 311-7333
2 Mihailovskaya ul.

►St. Petersburg State Capella

Founded in 1703, the hall is acoustically ideal and has an organ. The Capella Concert Hall enjoys wide popularity in the music world. The best works of famous composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Borodin, Mussorgsky, Shostakovich and Prokofiev are performed here.

Tel: +7 (812) 314-1058
20 Naberezhnaya Reky Moiki

►Dom Kompozitorov

Here you can hear all different types of music: ethnic, jazz and classical. Definately worth a trip.
Tel: +7 (812) 312-2564.
45 Bolshaya Morskaya ul.

JAZZ CLUBS

►Jazz Philharmonic Hall

This was one of St. Petersburg's first clubs opened by the "Russian Grandfather of Jazz", David Goloshokin, in 1989. The club hosts many local and international acts.

Tel: +7 (812) 764-8565
27 Zagorodny Prospect