Mikhailovsky Theatre

The Mikhailovsky Theatre – one of the oldest musical theatres in St. Petersburg – opened to audiences in 1833. At various times, French and German troupes performed on its stage; in the post-revolutionary period, only an opera troupe worked here; from 1933, a ballet troupe was also formed, founded by the outstanding choreographer Fyodor Lopukhov. The theatre's repertoire was based on the greatest works of opera classics, and operettas were also traditionally staged. However, a characteristic feature of the theatre was its interest in the modern music of the 20th century, which persisted throughout all subsequent decades. This theatre traditionally introduced audiences to new works: it hosted the world premieres of Dmitri Shostakovich's operas "The Nose" and "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District," Sergei Prokofiev's "War and Peace." In 1935, the outstanding 20th-century director Vsevolod Meyerhold presented P.I. Tchaikovsky's opera "The Queen of Spades" in an original interpretation, which became a genuine event in the history of world theatre. Innovative ballets, memorable to audiences of several generations and becoming legendary, were created here: Dmitri Shostakovich's "The Bright Stream," Boris Tishchenko's "Yaroslavna" (directed by Yuri Lyubimov), Sergei Prokofiev's "Tsar Boris," and a number of others.

In recent years, the theatre has become one of Russia's leading artistic companies. The theatre's creative leaders enjoy wide recognition and acclaim. The ballet troupe is headed by the famous Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato, and Alexander Solovyov has made a notable mark as the theatre's Music Director and Chief Conductor. A cohesive creative team has formed at the theatre; each premiere becomes an event, the theatre is beloved by St. Petersburg residents, and visitors to the city strive to include it in their cultural program.

The Mikhailovsky Theatre continues its collaboration with the State Hermitage Museum: the joint project of one of the world's largest museums and one of the country's leading musical theatres combines their capabilities and makes a significant contribution to popularizing cultural-historical heritage and musical art.