Hello!

Pro Mariinsky Theatre I have already told you, but this time I will share with you my thoughts about the Mikhailovsky Theater. When I was a student, I used to come here often, but now it's about once a year. Both institutions have their pros and cons, so I will try to give an objective assessment, despite my obvious bias

There will be no photo of the theater itself from the outside, because now it stands in scaffolding, and I have not been able to photograph the facade before.

LOCATION

The theater is located on the Square of Arts next to Nevsky Prospekt. Despite the fact that there is a parking lot in front of it, I advise you to still get there public transport. From the metro station Nevsky Prospekt (exit to the Griboedov Canal) walk literally 5 minutes. In this regard, he greatly outperforms the Mariinsky, which is quite far from the nearest station.

ABOUT THE THEATER

The theater has enough rich story. It appeared here back in the 30s of the 19th century, since then it has changed its status and name many times. At first, it was planned as an additional platform for the Alexandrinka, which already at that time thundered throughout St. Petersburg. A permanent troupe appeared only a hundred years later, under Soviet rule.

Mikhailovsky Theater can not be called an institution with a worldwide reputation. Despite the fact that the troupe often tours, I don’t know the names of the leaders at all, and I don’t know the dancers well. And yet, the hall is mostly packed to capacity, and not only by Russians, but also by foreigners. Ticket prices here are lower than at the Mariinsky, and some performances are just as good.

INSIDE

Since the theater was built in the 19th century, it was created in that fashion. Looks great, of course! Beautiful, rich, with many different details. It is immediately clear that he came to the opera and ballet theater with a rich history.

Its structure is almost the same as that of the Mariinsky, which I will dwell on in more detail.

In terms of tiers, everything is standard here (from bottom to top):

• parterre;
• benoir;
• mezzanine;
• 1st tier;
• 2nd tier;
• 3rd tier.

Each tier has its own separate wardrobe, which is very convenient, because it allows you to avoid crowding after the end of the performance. The parterre and benoir are undressed on the first floor, from where the entrance is made. The rest must go up the stairs.

At the entrance to the theater, there is a frame immediately, things are inspected. They did this 7 years ago, and now. Then there will be a large foyer where you can buy tickets, change clothes for the first tiers. Here are the stairs to the other tiers. Above all the entrances it is written where the stairs lead. Here they will check your tickets and, if necessary, they will tell you something. Programs can be bought right there or on your floor.

The last time I decided to remember the students and climbed to the 3rd tier, because there were the most cheap tickets. I forgot that this is not the Mariinsky Theater, and the view from here is disgusting. But I will return to the third tier below.

Buffets are not available on all levels. But on the 3rd, for example, there is a vending machine with hot drinks, cold drinks and chocolates. Now one of the stairs is under reconstruction, and therefore running from tier to tier is quite problematic if you have not been here before. But the staff is always happy to help. On the second tier there is a museum of the theater, where costumes, posters and even scenery models of old productions are presented.

The theater does not look as pompous as the Mariinsky, but it is still very beautiful inside, especially if there is nothing to compare with.

THE THIRD LEVEL OF THE MIKHAILOVSKY THEATER

I decided to put it in a separate paragraph. It so happened that the Mikhailovsky Theater even sells places from which nothing can really be seen. Well, maybe 10 meters of the stage. Therefore, do not buy tickets to the last 4 boxes near the stage! Never! Even if it's very cheap! You risk just not seeing anything. I completely forgot that fences and lighting fixtures interfere here, so I saw only half of the Sleeping Beauty ballet. If at the time of purchase it is written that the place has a limited view - do not take it! The Mariinsky Theater also has places with poor visibility, but there, as a rule, people sitting in front interfere, but here the structure of the tier itself interferes.

But there is a plus: tickets to Mikhailovsky for the 3rd tier appear at the same time as for the others. That is, you do not have to sit at night and catch when the tickets go on sale in order to have time to grab something for low price like in the Mariinsky. Basically just my personal advice: for the 3rd tier of Mikhailovsky, take tickets only in the center of the tier, not in the boxes. And preferably in the first row. Yes, this is not the cheapest option, but the view from there is no worse than from the stalls.

WHERE TO SIT

Personally, I liked the benoir. As a student (see below), I often went here at a discount and sat in the benoir. Expensive, but good review. In general, it is perfectly visible from any tier, if you take places not in the boxes, but in the center.

Even from the last row of the third tier, the view is quite good, but I advise you to take binoculars with you. Lodges of the third tier, as I already wrote, I categorically do not advise.

STUDENT ENVIRONMENT

Once a month, Michalovsky chooses one Wednesday with a specific production. If you are a student, you need to come to the theater box office with a student ticket, and then any seat in the hall will cost 700 rubles. As a student, I went and sat so many times, as I wrote above, usually in a benoir. These places now cost 4-6 thousand, and for a student - 700 rubles. So enjoy

ADVICE TO THOSE WHO GO TO THE THEATER

1. Don't be late

I once stumbled upon a review when a person cursed that he was late for a couple of minutes to the stalls, the performance had not yet begun, but the doors had already been closed, and they did not let him in. He considered it a bad attitude towards the client. Mikhailovsky warns that entry after the third call to the hall is prohibited. Respect yourself and others, come early. I understand that anything can happen, but I love Mikhailovsky and Mariinsky because after the lights are out, no one will run around the hall anymore.

2. Keep an eye on your appearance

Recently in the BDT I saw a woman in jeans and a sweater. Of course, the rules do not state that they will not let you through, but still in St. Petersburg it is customary to go to the classical theater dressed up: women often come in evening dresses with beautiful hairstyles, men in white shirts and jackets. You don't have to walk like a wedding, but even smart-casual in the form of a classic jumper and black trousers will do. Just please, no jeans and sneakers. Now the dress code is often not respected, but in such a historically rich theater as the Mikhailovsky, one would like to see guests who respect such rules.

3. Don't bring kids

Now I'm talking about very young children and younger schoolchildren, whom some parents manage to drag to three-hour operas in the evening. For children, Mikhailovsky puts on a couple of children's ballets on Sunday afternoons. Tickets are a little cheaper for them, and the production itself is designed for children. It is necessary to accustom to the beautiful, yes, but not every child will be able to sit for several hours, albeit with intermissions.

4. Do not shoot during the action

I often see someone pull out their phone and start filming the production. This can not be done according to the rules of the theater - this time. It distracts those sitting nearby - that's two. And if it's a DSLR or, even worse, a soap box with an automatic flash... Dear guests, this is not a concert, this is a performance in a dark hall where the audience is concentrated, and all these screens are simply distracting. Please do not film yourself and make comments to your neighbors. As long as everyone silently watches it, people will do it! As a keepsake, you can take a picture of the bow of the performers at the end of the performance or find "official" photos on the theater website.

STATEMENTS

I go to Mikhailovsky exclusively for ballet, so I will only talk about him. So, for me, all productions are divided into 2 groups: under the direction of Nacho Duato and all the rest. Nacho is a guest choreographer who likes to stage classics with a modern touch. For some reason, his works are often sparse scenery. In a word, I don't like it.

For myself, I decided a long time ago that if scenery and other visual attributes are important in ballet, then you need to go to the Mariinsky, even if it is more expensive. If the "picture" itself is not so important, then Mikhailovsky will do. For example, ballet Swan Lake"is good in both theaters, but The Nutcracker is only in the Mariinsky. In Mikhailovsky, this is generally a failure, to be honest. This ballet is fabulous, New Year's, it should immerse the viewer in magical land, but it turned out to be something very poor. This ballet, like others by Tchaikovsky, is not particularly full of plot twists, so here all the power lies in the technique and the background against which this technique can be shown. Alas, Mikhailovsky, with his minimalism, did not succeed at all here.

From what I liked in Mikhailovsky, I can advise (only ballet):

• Swan Lake;
• Sleeping Beauty;
• Giselle;
• Corsair;
• Flames of Paris;
• Romeo and Juliet.

MIKHAILOVSKY OR MARIINSKY?

Here, of course, a matter of taste, but I still choose the Mariinsky. Yes, even more expensive. Let's get further. But there every production is a guarantee that you will be satisfied. You may not like the plot of the opera or ballet itself, but this particular production will definitely be successful. So far, I've only been disappointed once when I watched The Snow Maiden.

But if you are passing through St. Petersburg, are not very good at opera or ballet, and just want to touch the beauty, then Mikhailovsky is your option.

I myself will continue to come here. Sometimes you want to revisit what you've already seen. Sometimes the theater releases a new version, as, for example, with the Corsair. Yes, and there are still performances here that I did not go to. Given the difference in price with the Mariinsky, I put 4 points. Yes, many performances are much inferior to the main competitor, but given the price tag for tickets, it’s very good.

And a short video from the last visit:

The Mikhailovsky Theater is a famous musical theater, a true gem of St. Petersburg. Here, classical traditions are combined with the spirit of innovation and bold creative pursuits. Opera and ballet performances on the stage of the theater will bring real pleasure to connoisseurs of high art.

The Mikhailovsky Theater was opened in 1833 by decree of Emperor Nicholas I and was one of the privileged imperial theaters. The theater building was designed by Alexander Bryullov, the facades were created according to the sketches of Carl Rossi. The theater owes its name to Grand Duke Michael, the Emperor's brother. Initially, the theater was intended for the imperial family, the court and close associates, and even when it was opened to the general public, it retained a high society atmosphere.

French and German troupes alternately gave performances on the stage of Mikhailovsky, eminent guest performers performed. Here, the king of waltzes Johann Strauss completed his 30-year St. Petersburg seasons with the operetta "The Gypsy Baron". The great Fyodor Chaliapin sang and staged performances on the stage of the theater.

Since 1918, the Imperial Mikhailovsky Theater has been transformed into the State Maly Opera House. Outstanding Musicians, opera and ballet art supported and developed within its walls a high theatrical culture. The theater becomes a "laboratory for the creation of the Soviet opera." The operas "The Nose" and "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" by Dmitry Shostakovich were first staged on its stage, the innovative " Queen of Spades staged by Vsevolod Meyerhold, the world premiere of Sergei Prokofiev's opera War and Peace took place here. The ballet troupe was created and led by the outstanding dancer and choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov, whose successors were later Igor Belsky, Oleg Vinogradov, Nikolai Boyarchikov.

In 2001, the Mikhailovsky Theater regained its historical name, in 2007 - the glory of the most secular musical theater in St. Petersburg. Today the theatre, remaining faithful to the age-old traditions of the Russian musical theater, strives to keep abreast of the modern world theatrical process.

The theater has a unique repertoire that can be compared to a collection of jewels. Some of the famous classical ballets come in versions that are not presented on any other stage. These are, for example, "Swan Lake" - the so-called "old Moscow" production, a performance by Alexander Gorsky - Asaf Messerer, edited by Mikhail Messerer, "Giselle" edited by Nikita Dolgushin, "Le Corsaire" edited by Konstantin Sergeev, "Laurencia" choreography by Vakhtang Chabukiani, Flames of Paris, choreography by Vasily Vainonen. A separate chapter in the ballet repertoire is the choreographic works of the famous Spanish maestro Nacho Duato. In total, he staged at the Mikhailovsky Theater, where he headed ballet troupe for 3 seasons, more than 10 ballets. Among them are the full-length Romeo and Juliet, Versatility. Forms of Silence and Emptiness”, and captivating versions of Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, combining respect for tradition and modernity.
The operatic repertoire provides an interesting cross-section of world and Russian musical classics. On the stage of the Mikhailovsky Theater coexist classical productions Russian operas, such as The Queen of Spades, and radical versions by modern directors, such as Andriy Zholdak's Eugene Onegin, is the best opera performance according to the Golden Mask. Western classics are represented by operas

The theater met with an impeccably repaired facade and luminous electronic posters with constantly changing information. But the main feature of the opening is the replacement of seats and the reconstruction of the stalls, benoir and mezzanine.
Usually I take tickets for the 1st row of the 1st tier, but then I decided to test the benoir and at the same time evaluate the innovations.

Visually, the stalls caused rather rejection - along with the pompous old chairs, the solemn imperial style of the hall disappeared. But the convenience is obvious - the chairs are soft, not sitting out, the seats recline, which helps to get into place. The color was exactly right. It has become more democratic, but nostalgia will torment many years of Mikhailovsky's admirers for a long time to come.
Benoir clearly won, having received full-fledged chairs with armrests instead of high chairs - she appreciated the advantage from her own experience. The same armchairs appeared in the boxes of the benoir and mezzanine. Moreover, in the second rows of the chair's boxes a little higher and a retractable footrest is provided at the bottom. It will be necessary to test the lodges on some performance.
Well, since the theater is engaged in such a reconstruction, it is advisable to replace the chairs on the tiers, so that everything looks harmonious and everyone is comfortable.














Photo of the old hall (from the Internet).
Admire, sigh and forget....

The Mikhailovsky Opera and Ballet Theater in St. Petersburg occupies a prominent place among musical theaters Russia. It is located in the very "heart" of the city, at the address: Arts Square, 1. In the article, we will look at the layout of the hall of the Mikhailovsky Theater (St. show is visible. Let us now briefly remind the reader of the history of the theater and consider its interior decoration.

Historical information

The theater was opened by decree of Emperor Nicholas I in the premises of the former residence of the son of Paul I, Prince Michael. Since then, it has been called Mikhailovsky. The building was built on the square created by the great architect C. Rossi, so Alexander Bryullov had to try to make the project of the theater building correspond to the general ensemble. He succeeded in this to the full, so that the theater looks organically with nearby houses. From the outside, a very modest and unremarkable building delights visitors with interior luxury.

Petersburg saw the first performance back in 1833. At first they wanted to make it imperial, so that only members of the great family and close guests would watch the performances, but all the nobles fell in love with it so much that they began to come here from all over St. Petersburg for social meetings.

Since then, the popularity of this site has not subsided. Famous Johann Strauss and Fyodor Chaliapin, magnificent conductors Samuil Samosud and Eduard Grikurov, director Vsevolod Meyerhold and choreographers Oleg Vinogradov and Fyodor Lopukhov performed on these stages. Now the main choreographer of the theater is a guest star from Spain, Nacho Duato.

Description of the interior

Mikhailovsky Theater (plan of the hall see below) has not the most Big hall for presentations. It can accommodate only 890 opera and ballet lovers. It is framed in light colors walls and boxes, in combination with the red velvet of chairs, curtains and draperies of the “royal box”, located in the center of the hall opposite the stage.

In 1859, significant changes were made to the interior of the premises: expanded auditorium, the boxes of the benoir and mezzanine were covered with rich stucco with figures of caryatids, and beautiful plafonds were installed. The portal above the proscenium is also decorated with these sculptures. Engaged in the reconstruction of A. Kavos.

Hall scheme

The Mikhailovsky Theater has the usual arrangement of seats in the hall, characteristic of most opera houses in the world. From below, opposite the orchestra pit, there are stalls chairs. Some theatergoers are not very happy with the arrangement of these chairs, since the gentle rise of the floor in the stalls is very small. The seats are almost on the same level. The first ten rows are even. From the 11th to the 14th rows of the stalls have a rounded shape.

The rest of the chairs are in boxes. Their first row - the benoir - is at the level of the stalls. This is the very first floor of the lodges. Armchairs stand in two rows, four in each. On the scheme of the hall of the Mikhailovsky Theater it is clear that there are 7 benoir boxes on the left and on the right. In the center are places in a semicircle in three rows.

Boxes A and B are placed on both sides of the stage. There can be 8 people: four in front and four in the second row. The audience there sit almost above the stage and watch the performance as if from above.

The next floor is occupied by mezzanine boxes. Spectators are placed in the same way, four people each. Two chairs in front, near the railing and two behind. In the center, two rows of chairs on the left and right adjoin the central "royal" box. It is beautifully decorated with draperies and is also the most comfortable for watching performances.

The next three floors have a similar structure in the scheme of the hall of the Mikhailovsky Theatre. These are the first, second and third tiers. On each floor there are boxes and rows of chairs for spectators in the center. Let's now see what changes have taken place in the arrangement of seats in the auditorium after the recent reconstruction, let's get acquainted with the innovations.

New floor plan

The Mikhailovsky Theater has prepared for art lovers a redevelopment of seats in the auditorium for the new season. The seats in the stalls, benoir and mezzanine were completely replaced. The new models are much more comfortable than the previous ones. They have comfortable armrests, high soft backs and even a footrest. Also changed the location of the seats in the stalls. If earlier there was a passage in the middle to the left and right rows of the stalls, now it has been completely removed, shifting all the seats to the central part of the theater. Passages are cleared on both sides. This was done to improve the perception of the performance. Also, the authors of the project of the updated scheme of the auditorium of the Mikhailovsky Theater considered that in this way the beautiful stucco molding of the benoir boxes, which was previously covered by people sitting nearby, would open up to the eyes of visitors.

Another change will affect the second-row seats in the benoir and mezzanine boxes. If earlier the seats were the same size both in front and behind, and the viewers of the second row had to look out from behind the shoulder of the neighbor in front, now the seats of the second row will be much higher. And to make it comfortable for the audience to sit on high seats, they have footrests.

All changes are thought out to the smallest detail, so that next season the audience will be much more comfortable and sit down and see what is happening on stage.

Best Places

In the Mikhailovsky Theater, the seating arrangement is classical, and, as in all similar opera houses, there are places with better visibility and audibility, and there are chairs on which it is not very comfortable to perceive the action taking place on the stage. It is perfectly visible in the first and second row of the stalls.

Praise the audience and the side boxes of the benoir. Everything is well seen and heard in the first row of the middle of the benoir. Well, of course, we are not talking about the "royal" box, because it is already clear that these are the most best places. In the first rows of the mezzanine, the audibility is good, but, according to the audience, binoculars are needed, since the visibility is not clear.

Bad places

Fans of opera and ballet speak negatively about some places in the theater. So, it is believed that in the places of the benoir, the so-called sides, where there is a sharp rounding of the hall, it is uncomfortable to sit. The stage is hard to see, so you can only listen.

In the rear rows of stalls, visibility also suffers due to a slight rise. You need to look over the shoulder of the neighbor in front. In boxes A and B, the audience watches the performance from above the heads of the artists, some movements are not visible.

FROM new scheme Hall of the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg, you are now familiar with good and not very good places. It remains only to buy a ticket and enjoy fine art the best artists in the country.