The address of theatre: St.-Petersburg, Palace quay, 34
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The word
"Hermitage" is firmly identified with the complex of the world famous
WinterPalace
in the centre of historic
St.
Petersburg. The
WinterPalace is a masterpiece of
architecture and serves as the main ornament of the city on the
Neva. It houses a huge museum of world wide fame. The
Hermitage might just be the most famous art museum in the world. It is surely
the most beautiful former royal palace of any European state. The
WinterPalace
is not simply a building containing art; it is an integral part of the state
museum, The Hermitage, consists of a total of nine palaces and is a national
property and the pride of the Russian people. It is also one of the most
heavily visited tourist sites in the world. Inarguably it ranks as the Number
One tourist site in St.-Petersburg.
Today the
State Hermitage complex consists of five majestic buildings created from
XVIII-XIX by famous architects and is located in the centre of
St. Petersburg.
During it's
existence many millions of art patrons have visited the Hermitage. Tourists,
both Russian, and foreign, visiting this "Venice of the North" aspire
to visit this treasury of art by all means, to look invaluable collections, to
join to perfect, to get a part of inspiration and spiritual perfection. Make
your trip complete with a visit to Catherine's personal theater and a ballet
performance.
No visit to
the
HermitageArt Museum should be considered complete
without a visit to the personal theater of Catherine the Great. It has been painstakingly
restored to its former granduer and it is worth a visit to
Russia just to
see it and attend a performance there. Everyone knows of the theater's
existence but only a privileged few have ever seen it. Become one of the few to
have enjoyed this special treasure of architeture in the heart of
Imperial St.Petersburg.
The
Hermitage Theatre is the oldest building in the complex of
theWinterPalace
preserved to our time. It was built on the site of the former Winter Palace of
Peter I. The construction of the theatre is functionaly independent and is
connected to the basic court building by an arch. The arch is built over the
channel that connects the
MoikaRiver to the river
Neva.
The arch is called the "Winter flute". The theater building, which
sometimes is called as fourth Winter the Palace, was constructed between
1711-1723. The theatre was built later in 1783-1785 during the reign of
Catherine the Great. The architect was Jakomo Kvarengi, who built around 30 of
the most beautiful buildings and structures in the city.
The
decoration of theatre and his halls is unique and represents a classical
masterpiece of palace architecture of XXVII century. The small court theatre
counted on 250 spectators was intended for the imperial family and selected
court noblesse, that has defined the forms, capacity of the hall and
disposition of rows of spectators. Auditorium, the main premise of the theatre,
differs by grace and magnificence of the decoration and furniture. A deep
amphitheatre of the auditorium conceived by an antique principle, in the
proportions is harmoniously combined with lines of marble half-columns framing
a semicircular hall. A small pit of three rows at seven armchairs each for the
honorary guests is arranged before a stage. Behind a balustrade separating the
stage from the auditorium, there are some more lines of benches and two lateral
boxes. Walls of the auditorium are trimmed with marble and are decorated with
classical sculptures of Appolon and nine muses. The bas-reliefs with image of
known poets and musicians are established.
The seats
of armchairs are upholstered by red velvet; floors are covered with carpet
coverings. Unique lusters softly illuminating the hall are lowered with a
ceiling. The architectural decision of the auditorium of the Hermitage has the
strict classical forms included in the canons of world building art. Venerable
architects of many countries of the world come to study immortal works of the
great master Jakomo Kvarengi.
Before the
stage an open orchestral hole separated from the hall by the balustrade is
arranged. The geometrical parities of area of the hall and depth of scenic
space have not equal to themselves. At small width - the stage is rather deep
and it allows arranging of various sets and gives to actors necessary and large
in the area space, sufficient for staging of ballet performances. The
auditorium is unique, it is small in volume and is located so, that does not
require using of theatrical field glasses. Everything occurring on the stage is
visible well from any place. The hall has natural perfect acoustics, sounds of
music precise and it is clear are transferred without distortions, that is of
doubtless and bright advantage. A combination of the architectural forms and
achievement of the special acoustic properties of a premise - is unique feature
and natural flair of the architect.
HERMITAGE THEATRE TODAY
Today a
hall of the Hermitage theatre and all premises are reconstructed completely.
Ornamentation of the hall, lines of armchairs, a ceiling, a system of
illumination and acoustics are restored exactly. Modern scenic equipment, sound
amplifier and light installations with computer usage, perfect, gracefully
weaved curtain are arranged. The basic restoration works were completed to
1989. Today the additional restoration works are carried out at the theatre and
it accepts visitors, spectators and tourists sparkling by the magnificence
again. The Hermitage theatre - is a large pearl in a necklace of treasures of
the Hermitage.
The
Hermitage theatre is included into the third millennium updated and accepts for
grateful spectators actively. By the course of small capacity of the auditorium
the cost of the tickets is rather high, however, it is unfairly lower than the
cost of he tickets in the auditoria of European theatres.
Ballet at the Imperial Hermitage theatre
Ballet
performances at the Imperial Hermitage theatre of the State Hermitage are
important events in the theatrical life of
St. Petersburg.
The stage
of this theatre is distinguished by a special beauty, graceful decorations, and
a unique historical tie to the Imperial past of the Hermitage that hosted
performances attended by Catherine the Great. Today the best artists of the
St. Petersburg and the
Moscow ballet perform annually from April
till October. Almost every evening the curtain rises and the ballet
performances begin. The performances are known for their adherance to the past
glory of Russian ballet. Each traditional ballet is truly beautiful and the
theater resonates with live music of the great composers perfomed by a fine
symphonic orchestra. These presentations boast the participation of masters of
the highest order and are treasures of ballet art. The music of great
composers, the high level of acting and sincere welcome that greets every
patron make every visit to the theater a special event. Auidiences see
brilliant artists and react accordingly. It is important to note that the
revival of the Hermitage Theater makes it possible to step back in time to see
a performance as did the previous crowned heads of state during the days of
Imperial Russia. It is all the more remarkable that these ballets are again
being performed along the historic Neva Embankment and it is as if the patron
has stepped back into a time once thought to have been lost forever. We
cordially invite anyone truly interested in world class ballet to attend a performance
in our historic jewel of a theater.
The
repertoire of ballet performances consist of "Giselle", "Swan
lake", "Sleeping Beauty", and also Gala-concerts (Evenings of
stars of ballet). Gala Concerts celebrate fragments of famous ballets such as
"Sleeping beauty", "Giselle", "Swan lake",
"Raymonda", "Silphida", "Esmeralda",
"Corsair", "of Don Kihot", "Spartaka",
"Markitanka", "the Bahchisaray fountain",
"Karmen", "Sheherezada", "Legend of Love", and
the masterpiece of Russian ballet - "The Dying Swan" and many others.
Leading
soloists and ballet artists of the Mariinsky theatre, the Mussorgsky Theatre of
Opera and Ballet, the Bolshoy theatre (in
Moscow)
and other theatres of ballet of St.-Petersburg take part in our performances.
