The Mariinsky Theatre (Russian: Мариинский театр, tr. Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th-century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. Through most of the Soviet era, it was known as the Kirov Theatre. Today, the Mariinsky Theatre is home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Mariinsky Opera and Mariinsky Orchestra. Since Yuri Temirkanov's retirement in 1988, the conductor Valery Gergiev has served as the theatre's general director. Under Yuri Temirkanov, Principal Conductor from 1976 to 1988, the Opera Company continued to stage innovative productions of both modern and classic Russian operas. Although functioning separately from the Theatre’s Ballet Company, since 1988 both companies have been under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev as Artistic Director of the entire Theatre. The Opera Company has entered a new era of artistic excellence and creativity. Since 1993, Gergiev’s impact on opera there has been enormous. Firstly, he reorganized the company’s operations and established links with many of the world's great opera houses, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, the Opéra Bastille, La Scala, La Fenice, the Israeli Opera, the Washington National Opera and the San Francisco Opera. Today, the Opera Company regularly tours to most of these cities. Gergiev has also been innovative as far as Russian opera is concerned: in 1989, there was an all-Mussorgsky festival featuring the composer’s entire operatic output. Similarly, many of Prokofiev’s operas were presented from the late 1990s. Operas by non-Russian composers began to be performed in their original languages, which helped the Opera Company to incorporate world trends. The annual international "Stars of the White Nights Festival" in Saint Petersburg, started by Gergiev in 1993, has also put the Mariinsky on the world’s cultural map. That year, as a salute to the imperial origins of the Mariinsky, Verdi's La forza del destino, which received its premiere in Saint Petersburg in 1862, was produced with its original sets, costumes and scenery. Since then, it has become a characteristic of the "White Nights Festival" to present the premieres from the company’s upcoming season during this magical period, when the hours of darkness practically disappear as the summer solstice approaches. Presently, the Company lists on its roster 22 sopranos (of whom Anna Netrebko may be the best known); 13 mezzo-sopranos (with Olga Borodina familiar to US and European audiences); 23 tenors; eight baritones; and 14 basses. With Gergiev in charge overall, there is a Head of Stage Administration, a Stage Director, Stage Managers and Assistants, along with 14 accompanists.
Mariinsky Theatre Tours and Tickets
🎧 Available audio guides (15)
The Mariinsky Theatre (Russian: Мариинский театр, tr. Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th-century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. Through most of the Soviet era, it was known as the Kirov Theatre. Today, the Mariinsky Theatre is home to the Mariinsky Ballet, Mariinsky Opera and Mariinsky Orchestra. Since Yuri Temirkanov's retirement in 1988, the conductor Valery Gergiev has served as the theatre's general director. Under Yuri Temirkanov, Principal Conductor from 1976 to 1988, the Opera Company continued to stage innovative productions of both modern and classic Russian operas. Although functioning separately from the Theatre’s Ballet Company, since 1988 both companies have been under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev as Artistic Director of the entire Theatre. The Opera Company has entered a new era of artistic excellence and creativity. Since 1993, Gergiev’s impact on opera there has been enormous. Firstly, he reorganized the company’s operations and established links with many of the world's great opera houses, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, the Opéra Bastille, La Scala, La Fenice, the Israeli Opera, the Washington National Opera and the San Francisco Opera. Today, the Opera Company regularly tours to most of these cities. Gergiev has also been innovative as far as Russian opera is concerned: in 1989, there was an all-Mussorgsky festival featuring the composer’s entire operatic output. Similarly, many of Prokofiev’s operas were presented from the late 1990s. Operas by non-Russian composers began to be performed in their original languages, which helped the Opera Company to incorporate world trends. The annual international "Stars of the White Nights Festival" in Saint Petersburg, started by Gergiev in 1993, has also put the Mariinsky on the world’s cultural map. That year, as a salute to the imperial origins of the Mariinsky, Verdi's La forza del destino, which received its premiere in Saint Petersburg in 1862, was produced with its original sets, costumes and scenery. Since then, it has become a characteristic of the "White Nights Festival" to present the premieres from the company’s upcoming season during this magical period, when the hours of darkness practically disappear as the summer solstice approaches. Presently, the Company lists on its roster 22 sopranos (of whom Anna Netrebko may be the best known); 13 mezzo-sopranos (with Olga Borodina familiar to US and European audiences); 23 tenors; eight baritones; and 14 basses. With Gergiev in charge overall, there is a Head of Stage Administration, a Stage Director, Stage Managers and Assistants, along with 14 accompanists.
Overview
More Adventures for You
0$
0$
3000$
No tours matches the filter
Access for Seniors
- Access with Portable Ramp
- Recommended time for visit 1 hour
- Recommended time for visit 2 hours
- Physical difficulty level - 4
Accessibility for wheels
- Special Parking
- Accessible elevator
- Easy without assistance
- Accessible Toilet
Access for Visually Impaired
- Audio Guide
- Place has Special Guide Service
- Service animals permitted
Hey there, fellow explorers! Let's take a stroll through the magnificent Mariinsky Theatre.
Imagine the grand entrance: your steps echo softly on the cool, polished marble floor, a gentle *clack* that bounces off unseen high ceilings. A faint hum of anticipation permeates the air, a low murmur of hushed conversations punctuated by the crisp rustle of programs being unfurled. As you move deeper, the scent of aged wood and beeswax polish mingles subtly with the faint, sweet trace of distant perfumes, a fragrance of history and quiet elegance. Your hand might brush against a cool, smooth brass banister, its surface worn slick by countless hands, or graze the thick, plush velvet of a draped curtain, absorbing the ambient hush. The rhythm of movement inside is unhurried, a stately promenade, each step sinking slightly into thick, patterned carpets that dampen sound, guiding you through the vast, ornate spaces towards the main auditorium. You might catch the distant, reedy call of an oboe tuning, a delicate, fragile sound that promises the magic to come. It’s a palpable sense of grandeur unfolding with every deliberate step.
Until next time, keep exploring!
Uneven cobblestones and steep curbs surround the Mariinsky Theatre's immediate entrance area. Inside, some doorways feature small thresholds and corridors can be tight, especially during intermissions. However, dedicated staff are generally helpful, and accessible entrances or lifts are available with prior arrangement. Overall, while not fully seamless, the theatre is manageable for limited mobility with advance planning for designated seating.
Stepping into the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg is like entering a hushed, gilded dream. While many rush through the grand entrance, locals often take a quieter approach, perhaps a reflective pre-show amble across Theatre Square, letting the evening chill sharpen their anticipation. Inside, beyond the dazzling blue and gold, notice the subtle, almost indefinable scent – a unique blend of aged velvet, polished wood, and the faint, sweet whisper of rosin from countless ballets. Locals know the true magic isn't just on stage, but in the collective hush that descends as the house lights dim, a palpable weight of reverence settling over the vast auditorium. Listen closely during the overture; the sound isn't just grand, it's profoundly *alive*, resonating with a distinct warmth in the dress circle's side boxes, where the expansive stage view feels surprisingly intimate. It’s here, amidst the whispered conversations and the rustle of programs, that the theatre feels less like a monument and more like a living, breathing heart of the city. Pay attention to the quiet creak of the floorboards underfoot, or the way the light catches the dust motes dancing in the air – these are the subtle, enduring details that truly tell its story.
Hope you find your own quiet magic there.
Start at the Grand Staircase; its gilded opulence immediately strikes. Skip the less ornate side corridors to maximize your visit. Save the main auditorium's breathtaking proscenium arch for last. Note the surprisingly intimate acoustics and palpable historical presence.
Attend an evening performance during the main season (September-June) for the full experience, typically lasting 3-4 hours including intermissions. Book tickets online well in advance to secure seats and avoid pre-show queues; arrive 30-45 minutes early to navigate security. Utilize the ample restrooms and buffet bars inside during intermissions. Avoid casual attire like jeans, as a smart dress code is expected.